By Chris Parker
First-year head coach Jared Patterson is taking over the Salem boys basketball program this year. He inherits a team coming off a four-win season. The Tigers have not finished above .500 since 2015-16.
Gunnar Konkel will lead the Tigers coming off an honorable mention all-conference selection last year.
“Gunnar Konkel will be our team leader,” Patterson said. “He is the most influential player on our team because of the impact he makes on and off the court. Gunnar is our most versatile scorer, hardest worker on defense and has a tremendously high basketball IQ.”
The junior quartet of Tre Richter, Haiden Sanders, Kaiden Gately and Bryson May also return.
Patterson on Richter: “He will be our point guard this season. He is our floor general and best ball handler.”
Patterson on Sanders: “He will be our power forward. He is a great shooter and will guard the other team’s best player each game.”
Patterson on Gately: “He will be our center. He has great length inside and will be a breakout player for us this season.”
Patterson on May: “He will be a shooting guard. He will make an impact with his hustle and aggressiveness on defense.”
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Henry Cameron (senior), Brenden Hanger (junior), Kaiden Dubois (junior) and Trevor Dooley (senior) will be newcomers to the varsity team.
Patterson on Cameron: “He will be a shooting guard for us this season. He can shoot the ball really well and will help us offensively opening up the defense.”
Patterson on Hanger: “He will be an impact player off the bench. He brings a spark on defense and does all the little things to help win basketball games.”
Patterson on Dubois: “He will be a small forward on our team. His instincts on defense and his leadership qualities will help improve our team on both sides.”
Patterson on Dooley: “He will be a forward for us. He will give us some depth at the position and be a force inside.”
The team put in a solid summer of work, which was key entering the first year under a new coach.
“All of our guys have put in work this summer and fall to help develop their game,” Patterson said. “We put in the work this summer with shootouts, open gyms and fall workouts. Our team has a mix of football players too that will make an impact for our basketball team. We have made improvements across the board so I will not be surprised if we win a few games we’re not supposed to.”
This team has developed great chemistry not just over the summer but playing together for many years.
“Our biggest strength this season will be our team chemistry,” Patterson said. “We have several athletes that have been playing together since they were in youth basketball. That chemistry and team camaraderie will trickle out on the floor and help create success for our basketball team. Our team is ready to make a change and turn around our basketball program.”
Salem opens the season on Nov. 18 at Dixon.
“We want to be the hardest working team every single day. We will focus on taking it one day at a time and letting our actions and attitudes produce the results. Control what we can control. We want to improve each and every game until we reach our team goals. The things we teach these athletes will be consistent with effort and attitude. They won’t be able to play basketball the rest of their lives but they will be or are sons, brothers, uncles, husbands and fathers,” Patterson said. “We have a great group of young men with a lot of potential. If we can put it together and if we put in the work; we will surprise a lot of people this season. I am grateful for the opportunity to coach these boys this season and excited to get started.”
