With the recent loss of coach David Clay, who led the basketball team for the last seven years, the team is left to prepare with new coach, EJ Perry, for a season they hope will bring them into the tournament.

Coach Clay decided to leave his spot as head coach of the Triton Boys Basketball program late this summer and take the position of the head coach for the Newburyport Boys Basketball team. With no coach for the basketball team and the school year around the corner, Triton had to take action and start a search for a replacement.

EJ Perry, previous girls head coach from Andover, was hired as Coach Clay’s replacement.

After a very successful season last year, with the team going 15-8, then the loss of their head coach and now a new unfamiliar replacement, questions have been asked about the team and how they are going to be this year.

The returning players and likely starters are Will Parsons, Dylan Shute, Gabe Butts, Colin Ganzenmuller, and Jack Tummino. The role-players and the role models for this season are likely going to be Captain Will Parsons, Tommy Lapham, Jared Drouin and Cam Willey.

Captain, Will Parsons, says “We have a really good team, with a lot of good players and a really experienced coach. I think we’re going to go far in the playoffs this year.” Parsons also said that “It has definitely been a rough ride losing a loved coach, but the new coach is great and I think he will be a good fit with Triton. I am excited to learn what he has to teach us.”

Fellow teammate, Dylan Shute, agreed with Parsons and said “It was tough losing coach Clay,” but Shute also has high hopes and said that “although we lost our coach, I think we have a lot to look forward too this season with Coach Perry, and I really think that he can lead us back to the tournament.”

Not only are the team members excited for Coach Perry and what this upcoming season has in store, but members of the Triton Community are as well.

Senior Jared Durkin said that “I am excited to watch this season because I think that the new Coach EJ Perry is going to give us a better chance at making the tournament this year than we have ever had before”

Fellow classmate and senior Steven Particelli agrees with Durkin and added that he “can’t wait to see what this season will bring.”

Lynnfield, North Reading and Newburyport all look like tough opponents for the boys basketball team this year, but the game everyone is most looking forward too is the Newburyport game.

Senior Rachel Rowe, said that “ I am looking forward to seeing the new coach this season and what he has to offer. I am particularly excited for the game against Newburyport. I think that game will be an intense game to watch and will definitely be exciting for the Viking Ship.”

With the basketball season right around the corner, many people from the Triton community are looking forward to what the team and Coach Perry will accomplish.