From left to right Jovaughn Carver, Marcus Torres, Eddie Gillon, and Alex Bridges huddle in for a quick time out. Out of breath and ready to win, they strategize a new plan.
The anticipation is building. The Loy Norrix JV boys run off the court. The lights in the gym dim. The varsity Knights run onto the court, the crowd cheers. The ball goes up and the game begins. The pressure is on.
For seniors on the varsity basketball team, last night was their last opening game of the season of their high school careers. All of the seniors on the team were very confident about winning. Going into the game, the team had high expectations of being even better than the 16-7 season record last year.
For the five returning varsity players Davian Phillips, Jovaughn Carver, Darrion Mullen, Bishop Robinson, and Trenton Beamon this first game was proof of the team’s prediction of a winning season. This was the first real view of how all of the young men would play together as a whole.
With 3 new seniors, Titus McKenzie, Alex Bridges, and Damion Coleman-West, and 4 other new additions, the team has had to learn how to play together and work with those who were not used to being on the team.
“We have great relationships on the team. We all contribute. We all were pretty close already,” said senior Damion Coleman-West.
“I feel like it’s going to be an intense first game of the season but kind of fun too,” said senior Davian Phillips.
For Phillips this season will be critical. With his season being cut short last year and no significant offers to continue at a college level, he expects to play his hardest every game in hopes of being recruited to a college. With his contributions and being a starting player this year, the team expects to achieve their goals of having a winning season.
“Going into a conference game, we have to go hard and come out with a win,” said senior Trenton Beamon.
As another returning player and point guard of the team, Beamon is expected to help lead the team in every game this season.
“I feel excited for the season to start. It’s hard to realize that this will be my last year playing as a Knight. I’m also a little nervous,” said senior Bishop Robinson.
Being the lead player for the varsity basketball team, much help is expected to come from Robinson.
“I think I’m going to play good but the big thing is making the people around me better. I’m going to play how I play and let my team eat,” said Robinson.
The Knights ended the night with a win, 61-46, against Battle Creek Harper Creek on Tuesday December 4, 2012.
Leading the Knights were, Bishop Robinson with 22 points and Darrion Mullen with 16 points.
