Nansemond River High School’s boys’ basketball team is looking forward to recovering from its first ever back-to-back losing seasons.

They finished the season with nine wins last year after also finishing with nine wins the year before that. This season offers a good opportunity for the Warriors to get back to their winning ways.

“Our tradition is so strong,” Warriors coach Ed Young said. “I talk about it a lot with my team. I allow former players to come back and talk anytime. We’ve got to get back there. I’m big on tradition. If the kids don’t understand, we make it a point to help them understand.”

The Warriors will be returning senior Dy’Quan McGhee and junior Gerard Stringer who recently finished their football seasons. Alongside McGhee and Stringer, Josh Hale will be returning at point guard for the Warriors. Hale started the last six games for the Warriors last year. V.J. Wilkins will return to add much needed perimeter shooting for the Warriors.

There will be a lot of trial by fire this year for the team, because they will be young and inexperienced. Of the 15 players on the roster, nine of them have never played in a varsity game. But the players are confident that the chemistry they build will pay off.

“I think we have a good group of guys,” Foster said. “If we come together as a team, we can be even better.”

The Warriors feel they have nowhere to go but up after their last two seasons. The players want to learn from those games.

“I feel if we work together and follow what coach Young directs us to do, we can have a good season,” Hale said. “Many people are going to count us out of games before they start because of our past. Winning some upset games will definitely bring joy to our locker room and provide a spark.”

The basketball season is long, which means there will be a lot of ups and downs. Young wants to make sure the team takes care of what’s in front of them, hoping that will allow them success later in the season.

“We have goals, but we want to take it one day at a time,” Young said. “Yeah, we want to be in the state tournament, but we’ve got to stay focus on the here and now.”

Nansemond River will start the season off at home on Nov. 29 against Oscar Smith High School. Tip-off will be at 7:15 p.m.