The wait is over. After two weeks of practices, conditioning, and installing the system, the Vikings finally get to play someone else. Saturday brings four games to NPJ — two for JV, two for Varsity — and our first real chance to see what this year's summer roster looks like in live competition.
This is the OAB summer league opener, and for most of the players on the floor, it'll be their first game in a Vikings jersey. That matters. We're not measuring ourselves against the scoreboard yet — we're measuring against the standard we've been working to build in practice.
The schedule
JV — Morning slate
- Game 1: 11:30 AM · NPJ Court 2
- Game 2: 1:10 PM · NPJ Court 5
Varsity — Evening slate
- Game 1: 6:30 PM · NPJ Court 1
- Game 2: 8:15 PM · NPJ Court 5
Plan accordingly if you have players on both teams or want to catch the full day. Court assignments can occasionally shift the morning of, so check the bracket board when you arrive.
What we're watching for
Wins and losses in summer ball matter less than what we look like while we're playing. Here's what the staff will be paying attention to from the bench:
The standard doesn't change because it's summer. The way we play in May is the way we'll play in February.
On the offensive end, we want to see spacing and pace. Five-out alignment, ball reversals, and movement without the ball. Push the tempo off every miss and turnover. Make the simple read, not the spectacular one. Trust the system.
On defense, we want to see communication and discipline. Pack the paint, talk on every ball-screen, no easy layups. We won't gamble for steals — we'll suffocate possessions with positioning. The team that talks the loudest usually plays the hardest.
More than anything, we want to see brotherhood on the floor. Picking each other up after mistakes. Celebrating teammates' baskets. Boxing out for the guy next to you, not just for yourself. That stuff is the whole point.
For families
Bring water, snacks, and patience — summer league days are long and gym schedules sometimes run behind. NPJ has concessions but lines can get long between games. Bleacher space fills up fast, so plan to arrive 15 minutes before tip if you want a good seat.
A reminder on conduct: families wearing North Salem gear are representing the program whether they realize it or not. We expect the same standard from the bleachers that we expect from the bench — encourage your kid, encourage teammates, leave the officiating to the officials. Saturday is the start of a long summer, and how we carry ourselves matters from game one.
The road ahead
Saturday is the first of many. After NPJ, the calendar gets busy fast — Payton Pritchard Classic in West Linn the following weekend, The Big Stage in Beaverton mid-June, and team camps at UW and UO. Every game between now and then is a chance to build habits, build chemistry, and figure out who we are.
But before any of that — we play Saturday. See you at NPJ.
Go Vikings.
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