On March 6, 2020, Utah’s Department of Health reported the state’s first case of COVID-19. Shortly after, Governor Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency. Through the rest of March, the virus continued to shut down our daily life services; one of these being school. As members of the East High community, we can find comfort through shared experiences of being in lockdown. 2020-2021 gifted us with new skills like effective remote communication, patience, and self-discipline. The pandemic also took away some of the things we loved most. 

This time last year, East High’s Boys’ Basketball team faced numerous obstacles regarding COVID-19. The team lost two weeks’ worth of practice, and two games. During this two-week period, players were expected to train on their own. “During lockdown, we didn’t have access to the East gym,” explains varsity player Elliot Levetan. “We had to bring the team together to play in churches that we could get into” continues Levetan. 

This adjustment was difficult for the team, both mentally and physically. As we reflect on the past, we can appreciate the things in life we take for granted. “A lot has changed with the mentality of the team since covid happened. We realize that basketball is a privilege and can be taken away at any time”, remarks Daniel Huntsman, another varsity player.  

This year, during the off season, many members on the team played with each other to build chemistry, as stated by Kevin Doe. One difference that the team wants this season from last year is their winning streak. 

On November 23, East varsity lost their first away non-conference game against Farmington by a score of 67-46. The first game results have no reflection on what the rest of the season will look like. The most recent game, against West High School resulted in a win for East High. Final score: 42-41. The recent win against West illuminates a brighter future for the boys varsity team this season.