On Nov. 30 the John Adams boys basketball team hit the court for the first time this season as they took on the LaPorte Slicers in an away season opener. After a hard-fought battle, the Eagles defeated the Slicers 56-49. In a brief conversation with him a few days following the game, senior guard Kalen Allen expressed full confidence that this win would fuel the team’s motivation for the season “Yes, for sure!! [We are motivated] because we’re starting the year off being winners, and that’s given us all the confidence we need,” Allen said. “We’re going to surprise a lot of people this year we’re a very great team, one of the best teams in the area.”
With three more games before the holiday, the team knows they need to keep putting in the work and showing it on the court in order to generate that basketball buzz going into the new year. When questioned about how he thinks the team will do this year, assistant coach Brady Bechtel thinks their team has the capability of surprising some people this year. “I think we have a tremendous group of core guys that are continuing to get better every day. Our players’ attitude and effort in practice day in and day out will determine our success this season.” Coach Bechtel is entering his third season as assistant coach for Adams and has been a key part of making this team what it has grown into these last few years.
This team not only prides itself in their skill on the court but also their family-like bond off the court. Multiple members have mentioned how this is what sets them apart from other teams. “I think our bond is like a brotherhood, on and off the court [and] it affects how we perform on the court because we [all know we’re] all in this together and got each other’s back,” said sophomore guard Carter Johnston. From Eddy Street side quests after Adams football games to supporting each other when times are tough, these guys are there for each other through thick and thin.
After a 1-0 start to the season, the John Adams boys’ basketball team was prepared to keep the momentum going as they hit the court for their next matchup on Tuesday. With confidence high and the belief that they can surprise fans and family this year, the Eagles took on the Niles Vikings with their eyes set on showcasing the chemistry and skill they practice everyday. Following an exciting junior varsity victory, including Terrance McKinnon’s 22 points, it was varsity’s turn to get the win so the team could come home 2-0 at the end of the day. After a pretty quiet first half, the Eagles led the Vikings 25-18 at halftime. As the clock counted down and players and fans started returning to the gym, it was time to battle out the second half.
Between fans and players, it was obvious that there was an energy change going into the final two quarters of the game. Adam’s student Jackson Pixley said that from a fan perspective the team went from sloppy and unorganized to calm and collected while junior guard Terron Johnson said energy was high from the start and then after a little uneven energy in the third quarter, the boys figured it out and found a way to get the win!
While the team is off to a strong start, they understand that the real test lies ahead. With their first home game coming up this Saturday the 7th (JV at 1p.m. Varsity at 2:30 p.m., be there), the Eagles know they’ll need to continue improving their skills in order to keep this streak alive.
Ally • Dec 9, 2024 at 8:59 am
Great article! Go Eagles!