On Friday nights, the spotlight shines on the varsity floor, but much of Star Valley High School’s basketball success begins earlier in the week with the JV boys basketball team. Often overlooked, the JV squad plays a vital role in developing players, strengthening the varsity team, and ensuring long-term success for the Braves basketball program.
The JV boys basketball team is led by head coach Aaron Lancaster and features juniors CJ Neuenschwander, Beckham Brog, Zach Delgado, Gabe Delgado, and Landon Peterson, along with sophomores Crew Lancaster, Kai Frazier, Kyler Kilroy, Harvey Balls, and Pax Larson. Team captains Landon Peterson and Gabe Delgado help guide the team through both practices and games, setting expectations for effort, leadership, and accountability.
While JV games may not draw the same crowds as varsity matchups, the work done by the JV team behind the scenes is critical. The JV squad competes daily against the varsity in practice, pushing them physically and mentally by running scout defenses and mimicking upcoming opponents. This preparation helps the varsity enter games more confident and better prepared.
Junior Zach Delgado explained the importance of the JV role when asked why JV teams matter to the success of the overall program. “I would say the reason JV teams matter is because we are the people that get them ready for Friday nights,” Delgado said. “We push them everyday to better their craft, and we give them sometimes as good of competition as they see on Friday nights. I think we are very important in achieving success as a program.”
Varsity players have noticed that impact as well. Senior Tayt Lawson spoke on how the JV team contributes throughout the week. “The JV team helps us a lot in practice to get ready for the teams that we play that week,” Lawson said. “They help us to know what to expect in a game during practice when they run the other teams plays against us.”
Coach Aaron Lancaster believes that JV basketball is essential not only for preparing the varsity now, but also for building the future of the program. Lancaster said, “JV teams are a tremendous benefit to overall programs success because they allow players to develop with court time and develop confidence every week. A JV program is a varsity training program as they will be the varsity next year.”
Lancaster also emphasized the daily competitiveness JV players bring. “JV teams help prepare and compete against the varsity everyday in practice,” he said. “The varsity team gets better when the JV competes at a high level.”
Beyond preparation, Lancaster highlighted the importance of depth and continuity. “They also help with the continuity and depth for the future of the program and they are the future talent,” he said. “JV teams also offer a competitive practice squad for the varsity as they can run the scout defense and better prepare the Varsity for competition.”
Despite receiving less recognition throughout the school, the JV players continue to work hard, not only for their own development but for the success of the entire program. Their effort helps the varsity sharpen its skills while allowing JV players to gain experience, confidence, and chemistry through game action.
The JV boys basketball team serves as a vital part of the basketball program. Through daily competition, preparation, and development, the JV squad plays a key role in present success and future growth—proving that winning on Friday nights starts before the opening tip; it starts with the JV.
