Boys’ basketball has long been regarded as one of the most successful sports for the Lions. The Lions’ constant pressure in the standings has awarded them some serious recognition in past years. This is not a year the Lions expect to disappoint.
Coming off a quality season, the squad has some serious potential this year. Coach Tarrant, still in  a fairly new head coaching position, should be optimistic about the coming year: the Lions have some very good players to watch out for.
Some of the players on the radar include the Mullarkey brothers (seniors), who are looking to top off their athletic careers with a playoff push in basketball. Other seniors include Will Plentie, Mike Faust, Ryan Lee, Greg Smolsky, Sean Bivins, Kevin McLaughlin and Ey Olarte. Rodney Williams, the athletic junior guard, comes back for his 3rd varsity season after having a great year last year. Hopefully the large amount of experience the Lions have can help them in terms of strategy and learning the playbook. Senior Kevin McLaughlin says, “having 10 seniors brings great leadership and great team chemistry. We should be a solid contender in group 4 and this could be our year.” Historically, experience has been one of the struggles of the basketball team. At the same time, the Lions are hoping that the success of last year’s Freshman and JV teams can help them in the future and also  in crucial moments this year. The new freshmen at West could also provide the program with new looks, new ideas, and new potential. Firepower is something the Lions will most likely not struggle with this season- hopefully it will help us out on the court.
As they are in one of the most difficult conferences in the area, the Lions will not have an easy road ahead of them this year. Conference opponents like Winslow Township, Shawnee, and Timber Creek always do their part in playing the Lions tough. Non-Conference powers such as Eastern, Paul VI, Bishop Eustace, and Cherokee will also be on the schedule this year. Of course, the Lions will see the Cherry Hill East Cougars in the basketball season hoping to avenge their loss in the Thanksgiving Football game.
With much to look forward to, the Lions are hoping their experience and strong coaching staff can ride them through the season. A playoff push could be what the Lions need to embellish the reputation of our sporting programs. Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Making a habit out of winning could be the key to success for the basketball program.