Senior can’t wait for 2024-25 season to get started
Season will open Tuesday night at home against Westville
Although Christmas is about a month away, it might as well be Tuesday night for Sallisaw Black Diamonds senior basketball player Jin Chang.
“I’m ready for it,” said Chang, whose Black Diamonds will begin the season at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against Westville after the Lady Diamonds open their season at 6 p.m. against the Lady Yellowjackets at Paul Post Field House. “We’ve been practicing hard since offseason for this season when it starts Tuesday, Dec. 3. We’re ready. I’m very glad to be here and to get this opportunity with the new coaches — Coaches (Zac) Rogers, (Jacob) Germany and (Jordan) Caldwell.”
There’s no time like the present, and Chang plans on making the most of his one and only high school basketball season.
“On a personal level, I came out to help our team and the players, and to win a state title,” he said. “That’s what I’m here to do. Off or on the court, I’m just here to help the team.”
It basically was the new coaches, Rogers, Germany and Caldwell, that inspired Chang to come out for basketball for his senior year.
“I like these coaches,” Chang said. “I feel like they give good coaching advice to us. They’re nice, but competitive.”
Rogers, a Vian native, was hired last spring to succeed Chadd Gehrke, who took the girls basketball coaching job at Chouteau-Mazie High School. Chang said he’s really enjoyed playing for the new coach.
“He’s a good coach,” he said. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s really competitive about teamwork and helping the guys on what we need to do. I’m going to learn a lot from him. I’m glad he’s our coach.”
