MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Marysville boys varsity basketball team added more depth to its strong roster in the offseason as the Indians look to win their third consecutive Pioneer Valley League title.

Marysville is coming off its strongest season since 2014 where the Indians rallied up 24 wins, a PVL title and made it to the second round of the 2021 Division IV CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Basketball Playoffs. Head coach Stan Easter, who is beginning his 11th season at the helm, told the Territorial Dispatch that he recognized the power of being near the top of a division.

“We were chasing other schools for the league title, now we’re that school everyone is chasing,” Easter exclaimed.

He added that now that Marysville is the team being hunted, they’re going to get everyone’s best effort. The PVL added three new teams this season: Wheatland, Twelve Bridges and Sutter.

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The Indians starting backcourt of senior guards consists of Joshua Brown Jr. and Ambelique Clarke. Senior guard Kayden Ellyson is a valuable sixth man who can keep the flow of the game going when the starters rest.

The three guards accounted for nearly half of Marysville’s average points per game total last season. To help expand the roster and add depth, the Indians added size and scoring.

The first addition was senior guard Amrin Mann, who averaged 21.2 points at Sutter last season. Then there’s junior Josiah Arrington who transferred from Foothill of Sacramento. The 6-foot-5-inch forward gives the Indians more size on the floor.

“He’s going to be able to help us with rebounding and size,” Easter said about Arrington.

Easter mentioned to the Dispatch that his favorite defensive scheme is man-to-man but is always ready to adjust for different teams because every matchup presents a new challenge. He added that he wants to speed up the tempo this season. Easter preaches to his players to always make the right basketball play.

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The Indians play a challenging non-conference schedule that includes three competitive tournaments that will be played before the end of 2022. Marysville will play in the Gold Dust Tournament at El Dorado High School that begins on Thursday, December 1 and concludes on Saturday, December 3.

Marysville will play in the Les Schwab Classic from December 8-10. The Indians will host their first home game on December 12 against West Campus. Marysville will conclude its tournament schedule when the Indians play in the second annual Coach Corn Classic at Yuba College from December 28-30. In the Coach Corn, the Indians will play 2022 CIF Division II State Champion, Elk Grove. 

Easter explained to the Dispatch that he wanted to play against higher division competition to let his team see how they fare against the best of the best.

“Whether we win or lose those games, that will tell me a lot about my group and where we’re at,” Easter said.

Marysville starts PVL play on January 4 when they host Sutter, Mann’s former team.