Those four senior starters who first teamed up in, what, the third grade in Apple Valley youth basketball?
“Might be second grade. … We played in a house league way back,“ forward Ryan Christiansen said. “I do remember we won a tournament some place as fourth-graders.
The four seniors who shared in the glory of the fourth-grade “B squad” tournament a decade ago were asked during that last practice Friday, March 27, to talk about their senior partners in Apple Valley’s renaissance.
You know, the basketball program that had Tyus Jones and kid brother Tre Jones and Gary Trent Jr., all current NBAers, back in the day.
Christiansen: “Baseball has been my main sport, so when these players have been working on basketball in the spring and summer, I was going around the country playing baseball. If I was a little behind, they always welcomed me back.
“Trey is a great guy, and Camare’ can be vocal, and T.J. is the ultimate competitor … but what we have in common is we fly around and work hard. Sharing this run with guys you’ve been with what seems like forever, that makes it even better.“