Fresh off their state championship win last winter, the boys’ basketball team has undergone numerous changes. After losing nine seniors, they have had to readjust. Don’t count them out just yet, as this team is determined to win.

I spoke with senior player Joseph Hardman, who provided an inside look at this year’s group. “After winning the state championship last season, we felt like we were on top of the world,” Hardman exclaimed. He explains further, “No one expected us to get there, much less win the Division One state title. After losing that many upperclassmen, we have shifted from being a senior-heavy team in leadership to being more connected and united, all learning from and teaching each other during the season.”

Following the win, the energy for this season was high. “They were hungry,” stated Coach Ian Adams. He continued, “This mentality started with the seniors and transferred to the newer guys coming from the JV level, who knew they had to step up this year.”

The pressure was on, but the team did not let it get to them. “We obviously celebrated the championship, but now we have a target on our back. We’ve had to put that behind us and keep moving forward. Those who have stepped up have maintained a driven attitude, and I think everyone was excited to prove it wasn’t just luck that got us here,” said Adams.

With all this in mind, the boys’ season started off rocky. “The coaching staff had to remain patient. We knew we would have our bumps early and had not expected to go 1-3 at the beginning, but we knew we could turn it around,” explained Adams.

Adams and Hardman both drew parallels from this season to the last, saying that it was not until halfway through both seasons that they finally found their rhythm.

“Going into this year, the goal was always to win the last game. We had a rough start initially, but with Jonas Nichols breaking the All-Time Hoban Scoring Record and T.K. Griffith earning his 500th career win, we are starting to peak at just the right time,” Hardman commented.

Hardman could not be more right. According to Adams, the team’s determination is at an all-time high. “Morale is higher than it’s ever been,” he observed. “Jonas was on cloud nine after he beat the record, and the energy in the locker room was insane. It felt like we had just won another district championship.”

The team’s spirit has certainly risen, and they feel more united than ever before. Remember to come out to support the Knights for the upcoming games.