2025 McQueen Lancers Boys and Girls Basketball Season Previews

2025 McQueen Lancers Boys Basketball Season Preview

By: J. Ray Dockter

Head Coach: Rob Fabri, 3rd Season as Head Coach at McQueen HS

2024 Record: 12-14 OVERALL, 5-11 League

Key Returners: Abram Carpenter, Alex Grush, AJ Spevak, and EJ Coops

OVERVIEW: The McQueen Lancers enter the 2025-26 season with high expectations, now under the guidance of Head Coach Rob Fabri, who is entering his third season at his alma mater. With four returning starters, the Lancers bring valuable experience, leadership, and continuity to a group that is eager to keep growing.

Offensively, the focus will shift to playing more disciplined basketball built around read-and-react principles, allowing the Lancers to make smart decisions based on flow and spacing. While McQueen still intends to push the ball in transition and attack the pace when opportunities arise, they also emphasize understanding how and when to slow down, control tempo, and execute with a purpose. On the defensive end Coach Fabri's squad aims to strike the balance between aggression and intelligence. The coaching staff wants a defense that pressures without becoming reckless, becoming one that competes with energy while remaining mentally sharp and aware of their assignments. The Lancers have embraced this mindset, knowing that their defensive effort must compliment their up-tempo offensive identity. According to Coach Fabri, the key to the Lancers success this season will be their "chemistry, trusting one another, communicating and working together seamlessly on both ends of the floor. With returning experience and a maturing group, team unity will be one of the defining factors of their season.

Looking ahead at the competition, Coach Fabri believes the top four teams are the ones to beat this season in the North, read below to see who he identified as the top four teams heading into this season. The expansion of the North's large class has created a challenging but exciting landscape for his squad. Fabri remains confident that his group is ready to compete at a high level, especially with continued growth in their discipline, composure, and communication. When asked to identify the best part of coaching high school athletics he said, "preparing them for the next level, whether that is athletics, academics, or the workforce." With strong leadership, a clearer identity, and a core of experienced players, look for this team to take another significant step forward this season.

Without further ado, here are Coach Fabri's answers to our questions we asked him last month...

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Offensively?

More disciplined with Read and React.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Defensively?

Aggressive and smart at the same time.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Style of Play?

Push the ball but know how to play slow.

What Is The Key To Your Team’s Success This Season?

Team Chemistry.

Who Do You Feel Are The Teams To Beat In The North?

Reno, Spanish Springs, Bishop Manogue, and Damonte Ranch.

What Is The Best Part About Coaching High School athletics?

Working with student-athletes to get them prepared for the next level, whether that is athletics, academics, or the workforce.

2025 McQueen Lancers Girls Basketball Season Preview

By: J. Ray Dockter

Head Coach: Erik Slikkerveer, 1st Season as Head Coach at McQueen HS

2024 Record: 4-23 OVERALL, 0-16 League

Key Returners: Audrey Baumgardner, Brooklyn Pimpl, Ashlen Chisholm, and Olivia Martin

OVERVIEW: The McQueen Lancers enter the 2025-26 season as the beginning of a new era, while welcoming their newest Head Coach Erik Slikkerveer. Slikkerveer brings renewed energy and a fresh identity to the Lancers.

Slikkerveer and his coaching staff aim to implement an up-tempo, modern offensive style built around fast-paced play, frequent pick-and-roll actions, and a commitment to shooting three pointers. With two key returners expected to lead the way, the Lancers will rely on their experience to help guide a roster that blends both upperclassmen and underclassmen. Coach Slikkerveer described the group as "a wonderful group of smart, capable ladies," and believes their collective talent gives the team plenty of room to grow.

Defensively, fans can expect a rough-and-tumble approach that reflects the competitive nature the new staff hopes to instill. The Lancers plan to use a variety of defensive looks, including traps, full-court and half-court presses, zone, man-to-man, and matchup zone in an effort to disrupt their opponents and keep them uncomfortable. Their mentality is summed up in the team's new identity, where they want to be "Tough and loud. Quick and smart. We want to be the opposite of years past." This shift in culture highlights their desire to outwork and outthink opponents while setting a tone of toughness and communication every time they step onto the floor.

As the season unfolds, The Lancers coaching staff is eager to see how quickly the player adapt to the new system and embrace the heightened expectations. They've identified "Effort and communication" as keys to the team's success, emphasizing the importance of playing hard, staying vocal, and maintaining togetherness through every challenge. With a balanced mix of youth and experience, that is anchored by their two returning leaders, this team has the potential to take meaningful steps forward. Look for steady improvement throughout the year as the players grow more comfortable in their roles and the new coaching philosophy continues to take shape.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Offensively?

Fast paced, pick and rolls, three pointers.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Defensively?

Rough and tumble. Traps, presses, zone, man, matchup zone.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Style of Play?

Tough and loud. Quick and smart. We want to be the opposite of years past.

What Is The Key To Your Team’s Success This Season?

Effort and communication.

Who Do You Feel Are The Teams To Beat In The North?

Reno, Bishop Manogue, Spanish Springs, and Damonte Ranch.

What Is The Best Part About Coaching High School athletics?

The team. We have a wonderful group of smart, capable ladies.