On Tuesday night, the Pleasant Valley Spartans began their season with an impressive win over Clinton, 73 to 31, building momentum as their season continues to progress. From the starting tip, they played with a high level of intensity and confidence, which allowed them to stay ahead with an early lead in the game.

The Spartans took an early lead due to their excellent ball movement and disciplined defense. Their execution on both sides of the court forced Clinton into taking many difficult shots. In the second quarter, PV started hitting many threes, forcing Clinton onto the back foot. By the third quarter, PV had pulled forward to a 50 to 26 lead, making it difficult for Clinton to make a comeback. 

Junior Brayton Birkel was very impressed with the game. “I was really proud of our team because we had been beaten by a couple of teams last year at home, and it felt really good getting a solid home win. We looked really great on both ends of the court,” said Birkel. 

The Spartans are looking to build off of a strong season last year where they had a record of 13-10 and an 8-7 record in conference play. After many valuable seniors graduated, the returning varsity players have stepped up immensely. Junior Cayson Neely is a returning varsity player, and he feels ready to help lead the team this season. “I think with me being a returning varsity player, I have more weight on my shoulders this year,” said Neely. “I think experiencing the varsity season already gives me confidence to be one of the leaders on the team this year.”

For newcomers like junior Brayton Birkel, the transition into the varsity team is exciting. “So far, being on the varsity team has been an amazing and fun experience,” said Birkel. “It’s fun getting to play at the highest level of basketball at the school while also spending time with my friends.” 

The Spartans are off to a great start with their season, and they hope to continue building on their progress throughout the season. They will look to continue their winning streak when they play the Muscatine Muskies on Friday, the 19th.