The varsity boys’ basketball league record stands at 1-3, including a 61-44 loss Jan. 11 to Sacramento Adventist. Although they have lost three games by over 15 points, they beat non-league Freedom Christian, 57-8.

They will take a week off for finals, and play their next game, Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Last year the boys’ varsity basketball team played with familiar players—including nine seniors—against familiar opponents in the Central Valley Christian League. But in 2007, everything has changed.

Now the team has only two seniors and plays in the new Sacramento Metropolitan Area League.

SCDS’s opponents in this new division are Sacramento Adventist, Faith Christian, Valley Christian, Lutheran and Bradshaw Christian. Although two of these schools—Lutheran and Faith—played SCDS last year, all the other teams are new opponents.

One of the more threatening teams in the new league is Sacramento Adventist, according to coach David Ancrum.

“They handled us pretty well,” Ancrum said of a 66-50 loss in the preseason. “They have a lot of big guys.”

Although the new league provides the advantage of playing smaller schools, there are disadvantages, such as not playing Waldorf, SCDS’s historical rival.

The boys must also overcome several other challenges on the court, including lack of experience and height.

In previous years, the varsity team has been predominantly juniors and seniors. Last year’s team included only two underclassmen, while this year’s team has more freshmen than seniors.

“[As a freshman] you’re playing against bigger, more athletic guys,” Robbie Lemmons, one of the team’s three freshmen, said. “It’s a good experience.”

Despite the team’s youth, junior Stephen Yslas still thinks it will be a successful season.

“This year’s team is more bonded,” Yslas, who was on the varsity team last year, said.

During the preseason, the team had a 5-6 record, even though they played Div. IV schools like Encina.

“We’re working on defense and running out plays in practice,” Ancrum said. “This year will be a learning year but a good year.”

Another challenge for the team is their short stature--by basketball standards. Although the tallest player on the team, sophomore Tyler Trussell, is 6’ 3”, only four of 11 players stand over six feet.

Other teams have much taller players than the Cavs. Both Faith and Valley Christian, for example, have nine players over six feet, according to maxpreps.com, a website that gives complete statistics of every high school sports team in the country.