The 2023-2024 boys’ basketball season is in full swing this time of year, and the fans are excited. With results from the past matches and the upcoming games, fans are anticipating what’s to come next from the team.
As per any sport, most pressure is on the players to produce good results for the team. As such, players have to practice and dedicate themselves to the sport. One reason for this includes meeting the recommendations and the expectations of the fans, who expect grand results.
“We’ve been practicing every day, and the games are getting more intense now, especially with the fans having higher expectations,” sophomore varsity player Cayden Fricke stated.
This season has been much different from previous years, with tight games and the team’s fans at the edge of their seats. This is the last season for some players, so they have to leave their mark. As such, many players are proud of their performance, but they are ensuring that their future performance exceeds their current performance.
“The season was going okay to start, but we still need to push through and build confidence within each other throughout these last few games. My season has been decent so far, but I’m not done yet. This is my last year playing this game, so I’m going to play with my life,” senior Jack Bonner commented.
On December 15th, 2023, the Marriotts Ridge boys basketball team faced off against Hammond High School. The game was close, and the fans were going wild for this close match-up. The score was now 59-59; Bonner shot one last basket with seconds left, making it the score now 62-59, Ridge had won, and the fans went wild and stormed the court. This was a big game for the boys’ team as they were about to lose, but with Bonner’s help, they won.
Leading the team from the sidelines is Coach Willingham and assistant Coach Teodosio. The coaches put many hours and work into ensuring that the students have good practice so in the end, they can produce strategic advances for the players to get an advantage against the other team.
“I break down three to four game films of our upcoming opponent. Going into practice, I have a pretty good idea of their tendencies. Those are things that we talk about. Then, we walked through and ran through them in practice. And then before every game, we go up together and meet and watch the film and show them those tendencies also. So when they hear certain words or certain calls for their offenses or defenses, we already know exactly what that means. So it puts us in a good position to be successful,” basketball Coach Willingham explained.
Many fans are also excited about the games as well. There are some moments that the fans remember that will stay on their minds for a long time. This can include the games’ atmosphere and the comebacks that the team has produced throughout the season.
“It feels something different than you feel every day in life, but to put it in words, I’d say a lot of adrenaline and tension builds,” Junior Wajahat Hasnain said.
As the Marriotts Ridge boys’ basketball team continues on with their great plays, from the coaches and the players themselves. Students are anticipating more great games to come in the future, leaving everyone excited for what’s next to come from the team.