Some of the upperclassmen on the Elk Grove boys basketball team are starting their season with bittersweet feelings.

“Going into my final year has mixed emotions for me,” senior guard Jacob Casterton said. “It’s sad that this my last time playing with my teammates but it’s been a great journey and experience.”

Casterton and a few other senior members of the team will be sad when the season ends some time in February, but this core senior group is hungry to reverse their fortunes.

With the basketball season already underway, the Elk Grove Grenadiers are seeking to build upon previous seasons. Last season with a record of 5-26 and went 0-10 in conference. They broke a 60-game conference losing streak on Dec. 2 in a game against Wheeling.

Head coach Nick Oraham said he wants his team to play fast, and that is starting to show some positive signs for the Grens as they start the year with some wins over Maine West and Wheeling.

“I want to run a little bit more, get some easy buckets in transition,” Oraham said.

Oraham also said he is excited about some of the new talent coming into the program.

“Nolan Brand had a good fall,” Oraham said. “David Paszkiet he worked hard, Karl Heitman.”

Those names might be heard a little bit more in the future, but the previously-mentioned core group on the team involves players like Casterton, Josh Mottley, Dylan McCorry, and Garrett Ewen, a three-year varsity starter.

“Being my third year on varsity it’s nothing new,” Ewen said. “We’re just trying to carry our success from football to basketball and get back to where we should be at.”

The chemistry they’ve developed has already shown some strong signs as the season heads into winter break.

“This team is different because we have played together for years,” Ewen said. “It’s good to be playing with these kids I’ve known since middle school.”