The air buzzed with excitement and nerves at Los Osos High School. It was the first week of classes, but for a special group of former Day Creek Coyotes, it marked the start of something even bigger: freshman basketball tryouts.

Fresh out of junior high, these athletes were stepping onto Grizzly territory, fighting for a chance to prove themselves on a bigger stage.

Last year, under the guidance of Day Creek Coach David Griggs, the players built a foundation of skills that would prepare them for this leap. “Basic fundamentals,” Griggs said. “We did a lot of drills; more importantly, [we focused on] ball handling and defense.”

At Day Creek, tryouts were simple: stretching, dribbling, shooting, passing, and a few scrimmages. It was competitive, but it still carried the relaxed energy of middle school sports. Los Osos, however, was another story.

“Yeah, [it was] definitely [harder],” said Jayden T., reflecting on the shift in pressure. “Osos is more important than the middle school season. I just had to be more confident at Osos than Day Creek.”

Confidence was only part of the challenge. The level of play skyrocketed. “The competition was way higher,” said Oliver H., a former standout from Day Creek. “Taller players, more conditioning. You had to run a lot of suicides, back and forth, non-stop, with tiny breaks, and play against people who were sometimes way better.”

The coaches noticed too. Head Varsity Coach Gray, explained the program’s philosophy: “We believe that everybody should be a leader. We don’t just believe in only having one leader. All of our guys need to be good with talking, communicating, and basically leading by example first. You see them on campus, and you wouldn’t even know they’re basketball players because they’re nice to everybody. We don’t have any tolerance for bullying or negativity. Our guys are focused, and if anybody ever saw a practice, they’d know we’re together.”

Skill was essential, but so is teamwork. “We look for the simple skills: ball handling, passing, footwork, defense, shooting,” Coach Gray said. “We break it down into categories and grade them 1 through 5 so it’s fair. But we also look at their ability to work with others. Basketball is a team sport. There are always five guys on the court, so how well do you work with others?”

By Monday, August 8, the wait was over. A single sheet of paper taped to the gym door held the names that everyone anticipated. Former Coyotes crowded around, searching.

Jayden T., Oliver H., Oliver C., Brandon H., Logan S., and others each earned a spot on the Los Osos Freshman Boys Basketball team. The Coyotes had officially become Grizzlies.

For Coach Griggs, it was a moment to remember. “I’m very proud of them,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going to some of their games.”

With new coaches at a new school, the stakes are higher. But with the support of their old coach and the bond of a shared history, these players are ready for the challenge. From Day Creek to Los Osos, a new journey on a bigger court is calling.