The Suburban Big 6 conference made a big change this year for all sports with the addition of Park Hill. This not only changes the name of the conference to the Suburban Big 7, but strengthens the competition significantly.

The addition of Park Hill adds two more highly competitive, meaningful games to the Jaguars’ schedule. Senior guard Cale Connors talked about these extra two games.

“It takes away two non-con games, but just adds another familiar opponent that you know will be tough games, so it just makes the schedule even tougher and makes it so conference play is a week longer,” Connors said.

The tougher schedule also makes the team more prepared for postseason play. Head Coach Jimmy Cain talked about how this prepares the team.

“I think playing in our conference every year toughens you up for the postseason,” Cain said. “I think when you play a bunch of good teams the whole season, you don’t have the surprise factor of playing a good team. I feel it gets us completely ready to make a postseason run every year.”

With conference games being the most important games on the schedule, being well prepared is even more important. Senior forward Caden Mauck talked about how they prepare for these games.

 «I would say we don’t try to change much, but we know our goal every year is to be conference champions,” Mauck said. “The conference games are always important because of how strong our conference is so you can never take a game off against anyone.”

The Jaguars are now 9-13 on the season, with a 3-6 conference record. They have three conference games left against Lee’s Summit, Lee’s Summit North and Blue Springs.

The Jaguars take on Lee’s Summit tonight at 7 at home.