The Wildcats took down Pacific Lutheran University 85-61 in a scrimmage with the ‘Cats picking up where they left off last season. It was the first game played since the Wildcats took home the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) trophy. With a win to start the season, the team has picked up where they left off.
Freshman Guards Jamari Harris and Eli Williams had the connection of the night with an emphatic lob pass from Williams to Harris.
“Eli had it on the fast break, and I ran behind my guy and pointed up to let Eli know to toss it up,” Harris said. “And he tossed it up perfectly, and I caught it and threw it down. Honestly, I didn’t expect it, but the play happened so perfectly, and the older guys loved it. They’ve been telling me I got to get a dunk [in the] first game, so I had to make it happen.”
There was a lot of change to the overall team in the offseason, with four key seniors leaving, plus others via the transfer portal. This season the team is composed of five freshman, six sophomores, three juniors and Mitch Brizee, the lone senior forward. With those five seniors gone the team had to look for who will bring that veteran leadership to the locker room.
“I think our team can agree that all of the returners have stepped up as leaders for us,” Harris said. “Always holding us accountable and also pushing us to be better.”
With so much change occurring on the team, many of the players are in position battles. These can be tough because you are still a team and need to be there to support your brothers in every rep. Harris mentioned the team often uses the term “shared joy” and are always there to uplift everyone on the team and be happy for others.
The 2023-2024 season the fans were the fuel for the team, specifically through the GNAC tournament that was hosted at Nicholson Arena. Harris and the rest of the team are looking for their fellow Wildcats to continue to bring that noise going into this season. “I think they can carry that on into this year later as the games get better,” Harris said. “The environment [is] always great in the Pav. A lot of great work gets done in there.”
The team prepares for this upcoming week as they participate in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)/GNAC Challenge. Their first match is against No. 14 Cal State San Bernardino on Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. They will follow that up with playing Monterey Bay on Nov. 10 at 1:00 p.m. with both games hosted at Nicholson Arena.
