Soaring above its competition, Parkside Intermediate School’s seventh grade boys basketball team went undefeated this season.
The Parkside Panthers' seventh grade A team finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0 league record and 16-0 record overall, the first time the team has won a basketball title in the area-wide league. The team also won two tournaments and is trying to win its third this weekend in San Jose, said Coach Sean Wada.
What made the difference with this squad?
“They work hard,” said Wada, who has been coaching basketball for nine years. “They play as a team.”
Players practice during lunch and after school, plotting offensive and defensive tactics that are on par with high school teams, Wada said.
Eddie Stansberry is the team’s standout player at shooting guard and point guard.
“I’m not surprised we went undefeated,” Eddie said after knocking down some three-pointers Friday. “We practice hard. What you do in practice is all going to show up in the game.”
Point guard Raoul Ligon adds that the team has taller players than the neighboring teams. Plus, they are tight group on and off the court.
“We treat each other as teammates and friends,” Raoul said.
Wada said most of the games were won by a large margin, with the exception of its games against .
“We blew out almost every team,” said center Dylan Mayer.
That’s why Wada has been taking the undefeated Panthers to play in tournaments.
“Our school league, they weren’t the competition we are looking for,” Eddie said.
