With new players and a new coach, Summit’s boys basketball team is writing their own story – and it’s not done yet

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Summit boys basketball has been a dominant force for half a decade, securing five league championships in a row, making three straight state title appearances, and currently reigning as state champions. Their 2025 playoff journey begins Saturday.

Last Friday, the Summit Storm clinched this year's IMC title with a win over Ridgeview.

"Honestly, it's really cool," senior Will Manfredit said. "That was one of our goals this season, to do that. And, you know, it's a really good league, so it feels good to come out on top."

After last season’s championship run, the Storm lost key star talent. This year, a new class of seniors with minimal previous playing time stepped into the spotlight, ready to make their mark.

Point guard for the Storm and senior Rowan Blossey says they are excited: "Yeah, I mean, we saw a lot last year, just everything that goes into it, whether it be film, practices like this, where we're just scouting for our opponents. We saw what it takes. And then especially at the state tournament itself. Hopefully we win this first game here, but, we know how it works. We're confident that given the opportunity, we could do something special."

With a fresh lineup and star talent like Manfredi, the team is eager for the challenges ahead. "Oh, we're really excited! I got to see that environment last year, and I really want to go back to that level. I think if we can win that game (on Saturday), that'd be awesome."

Adding to the changes this season, the Storm also welcomed a new head coach, Joe Wells.

"I think for us, John Frazier, he's built such a great program that I got lucky enough to inherit. Like most of these kids have played in the Summit program for eight or nine years," Wells said.

Wells has instilled a "why not us?" mentality in the team: "You're like, 'Okay, where are we going to take our lumps?' And we took our lumps in pre-season. And as you say, our goal is to be peaking at the end and not peaking in December."

With a winning legacy behind them and a new roster eager to prove themselves, the Storm are ready to take on the playoffs and defend their title.