The high school boys’ basketball playoffs are right around the corner, and the Riverside Bulldogs are ready to make some noise. Powered by star point guard Cole Jeppeson and a scrappy defense, the Bulldogs will be a tough draw for anyone that has to face them in the playoffs. Jeppesen, a junior, is the team’s second leading scorer and leading assist maker, averaging 10 points and 5 assists. The Bulldogs pride themselves on being a defensive team that implements full court pressure and makes opposing offenses uncomfortable. They average 9 steals a game and consistently implement Coach Kroon’s defensive tactic of picking up point guards behind half court. Riverside features four players who average over a steal a game, with junior’s Cole Jeppesen and Peyton Amdor collecting over two a game. Amdor is also the team’s leading scorer, pouring in 17 points a game. The attitude of being a defensive team is something that Coach Kroon wants the team to build on heading into the playoffs.

Although it is an entire team effort, it all starts with point guard Cole Jeppesen. Coach Kroon knows how important he is on both ends of the floor and how key that is when facing off against the conference’s best guards:

Playoffs can be daunting when faced with a win or go home scenario, but Coach Kroon doesn’t think changing scheme up is a good idea at this point in the season. Keeping his players’ legs fresh as the season closes is the most important thing:

This Riverside team is a group of boys that continue to impress their coach in not only their work ethic but their attitude as well. Coach Kroon believes that whatever success comes out of the playoffs will be the result of hours of work behind the scenes:

The Riverside Bulldogs first round playoff matchup has yet to be set, but it will be played on Tuesday, February 17th. They still have two regular season games left, with their second to last matchup taking place on Tuesday, February 10th against the Treynor Cardinals.