Hungry for a state championship title, Palmetto boys varsity basketball has been preparing for this upcoming season.  After reaching the regional-semi finals last spring, following their district championship win, the team continued their training throughout the summer, playing over 100 games together, conditioning and improving their game.

“My team and I have been in the weight room getting stronger and faster and also in the gym, putting up shots and getting better everyday,” senior Danilo Castellano said.

The boys train two hours a day, six days a week with high expectations set for this season.

“We’ve been lifting weights, running, conditioning, getting in the gym, working on our game, so we pretty much have done a non-stop summer, getting ready for the season,” Head varsity coach Marcos Molina said.

Ambitions for a state championship title escalated since last season after losing in the regional semi-finals.

“Our goals for this year is to first, stay healthy, have great practices everyday and hopefully we can reach a state championship,” Molina said.  “That has been a goal we have been talking about for the past two years.”

Overall, the team has high expectations for the season, and players remain excited and optimistic for the new season.

“I am most excited for being a senior and a leader on this team and hoping to win a state championship,” Castellano said.

So far, the season has been a success.  Palmetto defeated Westminster Christian School, 64-35, and Belen 69-29. Castellano, top scorer of the Westminster game, scored 15 points to pace the Panthers from the start. The Panthers put their perfect preseason to rest now, to prepare for a non-conference matchup against Miami Norland, at American Airlines Arena come Tuesday.