Big Sandy wants to support our nearby small town and its efforts at bringing home a state championship! Congratulations to the Box Elder Bears and their boys' basketball team on going undefeated this season with a very impressive record of 26-0!

After visiting with other people who know more about basketball than I do, I was even more impressed by the Bears. After leaving that discussion, I listened to them about what they noticed watching the Bears basketball team, specifically their coach, Jeremy MacDonald.

I knew he'd been a coach at Box Elder for several years, winning two other state championships in 2014 and 2016, and I know the community loves and respects him, but I learned even more about his game and strategy.

It was brought up on NFHS how often he subs, under the impression that he keeps everyone's legs fresh so they can continue at the high rate of pushing the ball, attacking the basket, and crashing the boards-which every one of them does! Coach MacDonald has a roster of 14 boys, and while some may not get a lot of playing time, he does play everyone, and that is so impressive. It shows how he believes and trusts every one of his players' skills.

But the one thing that stands out the most is how these boys show confidence; everyone believes in themselves because everyone passes to the other and trusts each other to shoot the ball...the pure definition of teamwork. Do they have a high scorer every game being the same player? Typically, yes. But to watch them work as a team, how they all flow on the court, every player being able to play every position and have the confidence to handle the ball...that's something to be proud of.

You don't see many kids these days with a lot of confidence or who know a team like the Bears and a Coach like MacDonald to build these boys up. It says a lot about their program.

So congratulations, Box Elder Bears, on your State Championship! This is a very well-deserved award to an amazing group of players and coaches. I can't wait to see what you all do next