While the regular winter season might not be up and running just yet, the high school boys basketball team is kicking things off nice and early by participating in the annual Give Thanks Classic Invitational hosted throughout the week.

Following the success of last season, an early tournament is a good way to shake the cobwebs off and build some momentum before entering regular play.

Last year, the Falcons earned the state championship title following an impressive season of 22 wins and only six losses.

In other words, head coach Matt Keating and the members of his squad have their work cut out for them. But it’s a challenge he thinks the Falcons are up for as they prepare for the road ahead.

One of the Falcons’ big advantages this season will be experience. While several key players graduated at the conclusion of the 2016-17 academic year, nine seniors will be back on the court this season, accompanied by a similar number of juniors and plenty of underclassmen.

“…It is a lot of returning faces who are going to be transitioning into very prominent roles,” Keating said.

While the Falcons have only been practicing as a team for a couple of weeks, Keating said some positives are starting to shine through.

“So far, our strength seems to be in our driving and our shooting,” he said. “We are able to attack from the perimeter and get to the rim with more ease…We have lost some overall size, so are now playing a faster style.”

For teams who faced the Falcons last year on the court, that past experience won’t be super helpful thanks to an altered game plan. Still, those types of changes come with growing pains, making an early-season tournament all the more beneficial.

“As we transition to a new offensive and defensive system, we are constantly working out old habits and mindsets,” Keating added. “It will be a work in progress all year, and should lead to constant improvement throughout the season.”

Keating said that constant improvement is one of the Falcons’ goals for the season, something they hope to build on all the way through to next February’s postseason.

“We want to keep growing as the season goes sow we are ready to make a deep run into the tournament,” Keating added. “We are adjusting based on the personnel we have. We will be playing a faster-paced system shat should be very exciting to watch.”

According to Keating, that should make the Falcons’ run through 2017-18 fun to watch.

“[Fans] should expect an exciting brand of basketball,” he said. “That includes a quick tempo and quite a bit of running.”

With the Thanksgiving tournament wrapped up, the Falcons will begin their trip through the regular season with an opener versus Wickenburg on Wednesday, Nov. 29. That game is set to begin at 7 p.m.

The boys and girls schedules have been paired up this season so that teams will play home and away, minus a few exceptions, on the same evenings. In other words, get ready for plenty of Falcon double-headers on the home court.