The Salina Central boys’ basketball team is gearing up for the 2024-2025 season with new leadership and high hopes for improvement.
After finishing last season with a 6-15 overall record and a 2-6 in the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail league, the Mustangs will be led by Head Coach Chris Fear, who returns to coaching boys’ basketball after eight years with the Salina Central girls’ team.
“It was a really difficult decision to leave the girls’ program,” Fear said. “But it was time for a new challenge for me professionally. The transition has gone well, and I’m excited to get started with this group.”
Fear, a 29-year coaching veteran, described his coaching style as structured and adaptable.
“We’re organized and detailed,” Fear said. “We’re also focused on building a strong culture. As far as how we’ll play on the floor, that really depends on our talent. The best coaches adapt to what they have, and that’s what we’re doing.”
This season, the Mustangs will rely on returning players Kamryn Jones (6-foot senior) and Kaden Snyder (6-6 junior) to provide leadership and experience.
“Kamryn and Kaden have played the most varsity minutes and will likely lead us early on,” Fear said. “But we have a lot of guys stepping into bigger roles for the first time, and we’re excited to see what they bring.”
Other players that will be starting this year are 5-10 senior Tate Gary, 6-4 junior Noah Peck and 6-5 junior Greyson Jones.
Snyder said the team’s goal is to improve upon last season.
“We didn’t have too good of a record last year,” Snyder said. “This year, we’re aiming for a winning record and to keep getting better every week under Coach Fear.”
Gary said he needs to not only become more of a leader, but also work harder.
“I need to be more confident in myself and lead by example,” Gary said. “Coach Fear has brought a lot more discipline to the program, and it’s helping us work harder and focus as a team.”
Fear noted that while the team is confident in their size, he said perimeter shooting and offensive consistency will be areas of focus.
“We have size and can score inside, but we need to improve our shooting,” Fear said. “That’s why we’re focusing on being a strong defensive and rebounding team. I think those areas will get better as the season goes on.”
Snyder said the team’s preparation has emphasized working as a team.
“Last year, we played a lot of solo ball,” Snyder said. “Coach Fear is really intense about playing as a team and not for yourself.”
Gary said that early scrimmages have shown progress.
“The new plays were hard to learn at first, but we’re starting to feel comfortable,” Gary said. “We’re focusing on defense right now because that’s something we can control as we figure out our offense.”
This season also introduces a 35-second shot clock trial for Kansas high school basketball.
Fear said that the shot clock will put more pressure on teams to score
“I like the shot clock,” Fear said. “It keeps the pace of the game going, but it’s going to take time for everyone to adjust. Late-game situations will be different because you can’t just hold the ball anymore.”
Gary said the shot clock will impact how the team handles close games.
“It speeds up the game a little, but 35 seconds is still a long time,” he said. “In close games, it’s going to matter because you can’t just run out the clock. We’ll need to manage those possessions well.”
Snyder said the team is eager to go up against old and new challenges this year.
“We haven’t beaten Andover in a while, so that’s one we want,” Snyder said. “I’m also excited to play Manhattan at home. We’ve never faced them before, so it’ll be a great test.”
Fear said he is optimistic about what the team has to offer this year.
“Our guys have bought into what we’re trying to do,” Fear said. “If we keep working hard and playing for each other, I think we’ll surprise some people this year.”
The Mustangs will play their first game at Andover Central tonight at 7:30.
