Oh, you want to know about the 2017 NAU basketball team, huh? Well, let me tell you a thing or two about those young lads from up in Flagstaff. They call themselves the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. Quite a mouthful, ain’t it? But them boys were tough. Played hard, fought through every game, and left it all on the court, just like the old days in the dusty fields.
Now, the 2017 season wasn’t exactly their best, but there were some bright spots, ya know? I remember watching ’em play, and I gotta tell ya, they didn’t go down without a fight. One thing about them Lumberjacks, they might not always win, but they sure do try their hardest. They played in the Big Sky Conference, which is a real challenge, what with all them big schools in the mix. But these kids from NAU, they weren’t backing down from nobody.
Key Players in the 2017 NAU Team
Well, if you’re askin’ who the standouts were, I gotta say, there were a few names worth remembering. First up, there was Ako Kaluna. Now, he was a tall feller, played real strong. He scored big for the team, especially in some of the close games. Oh, and don’t forget JoJo Anderson. He was another one that kept them hopes alive, especially when the games got tight. Those two had some real skill and knew how to hustle, that’s for sure.
They had their ups and downs, of course. Some games were real close, and others, well, let’s just say they didn’t turn out the way folks hoped. But that’s basketball for ya! Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but you always gotta keep your head up and keep playing. They might not have made it to the top, but they sure made the folks in Flagstaff proud.
The Team’s Playstyle in 2017
As for the way they played, well, they were gritty. A lot of hustle, a lot of heart. They didn’t have the same resources or big-name players as some of them other teams, but they sure knew how to give it their all. You could see it in every game. When the pressure was on, them boys didn’t shy away from it. They kept pushing, kept fighting.
Their games were all about defense and not letting the other side get too comfortable. They wasn’t afraid to get dirty. Sometimes, they’d be a little too eager, and that’s when the other team would sneak past ’em, but you can’t blame ’em for trying. Every game, they just wanted to do better than the last one.
2017 Season Challenges
But you know, 2017 wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The team had to deal with some tough times, like injuries and bad luck. Them boys tried their best, but sometimes it felt like they were fighting more than just the other team. The schedule was tough, too. Playing away games and going up against big teams like that takes a lot out of ya. But, like I said, they didn’t quit. They kept showing up every game, ready to give it a go.
Looking to the Future
Now, if you look at that 2017 team, you can see they were building something for the future. It might not have been their time to shine yet, but the young ones had potential. Folks around Flagstaff started to see that, and you know what? They started getting excited for the next season. And I reckon, with a little more experience under their belts, them Lumberjacks could do some real damage down the line.
And sure enough, in the years after 2017, the team started getting better. They learned from their mistakes, and some of them young lads, they grew into real players. So, even though 2017 wasn’t a championship year for the NAU basketball team, it was still an important one. It laid the foundation for what was to come, and that’s something worth recognizing.
Conclusion
So, there ya go. The 2017 NAU basketball team might not have been the best in the nation, but they had heart. They played hard, they learned, and they gave it their all. That’s all you can ask for, really. As for the folks back in Flagstaff, they were proud of them, no matter the outcome. And when you look at the future, you see that all them struggles and challenges helped make the team stronger in the end.
Tags：[2017 NAU basketball, Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, NAU basketball team, Flagstaff basketball, Big Sky Conference, NCAA basketball, Ako Kaluna, JoJo Anderson]
