Katelynn Thun is a NAU School of Communication journalism student assigned to cover Northland Prep for AZPreps365.com.

After a rebuilding season last year, the Northland Prep Spartans are looking to the future in their upcoming season. 

One of the main areas head coach Jayden Dvorak wants to see her team improve this season is "building their mental toughness.”  

This will be Dvorak’s second season as head coach of the girls basketball team. She is also on the coaching staff for Northland Prep’s girls soccer team. 

Many of the players on the basketball team are dual-sport athletes, including seniors Piper McGourin and Hayden Massey. 

McGourin transferred to Northland Prep as a sophomore and has been playing on the volleyball team since. This will be her first season on the basketball team. She believes the skills she has learned during her time as a volleyball player will be able to help her on the basketball court. 

“Even though this is my first time playing basketball…I think I can be uplifting for the team,” McGourin said. 

Massey is one of the three captains on the team in her second year on the basketball team. She is also on the Northland Prep soccer team. 

A leader on the team, one of Massey’s goals this year is to go into the season “with higher expectations.” 

“I want us to go into every game with our heads up,” Massey said. 

The Spartans hope that the new additions to this year’s roster can help give them a competitive edge. Dvorak believes these players will “bring a new perspective.”

“They’re all super high-spirited and they just really enjoy being here,” Massey said about this year’s newcomers. 

Last season, Northland Prep went 2-16 and finished seventh in the 2A North region. 

This season, the Spartans feel more prepared and more confident in their ability to be competitive. 

“We can build off where we ended last year, and we’re already starting ahead of the curve this year,” Dvorak said. 

Both Massey and McGourin mentioned that they are most looking forward to their home game against Camp Verde on Jan. 29.  

NPA will play their first game of the season at home on Friday, Nov. 21, against Rancho Solano Prep. 

Last season, the Mustangs had a 10-7 record and finished third in the 2A Central region. In their last meeting, the Mustangs beat the Spartans 51-12 at Rancho Solano Prep. 

One change the Spartans are looking to make this season is maintaining a more positive outlook as a team.  

“This year, maybe not always knowing that we’re gonna win, but that we’re going to keep the score close and put up more points on the board,” Massey said.