First home victory for the Hawks, promising future season

 

Photos By Elly HerrickEditor-in-Chief

Article By Katlyn Marotz, Senior Managing News & Sports Editor

               Katlyn Marotz

Paired with squeaky shoes and a rumbling crowd, the Indian Trail boys basketball team  triumphed in their first non-conference home game Dec. 1, going 61-49 against the Fuller Collegiate Academy Lions of Milwaukee. 

The game initially got off to a late start because the Lion’s arrived late. But that didn’t stop IT’s student section from standing and yelling for their team when it ran  ahead with points. 

The varsity IT Hawks came away with a 1-1 overall record, and the Lions left with a 3-1 overall record.

“I feel like our first home game went pretty well. We executed a lot better than we did in our first game, and the score showed that,” IT senior and forward Norvins Monestime said. 

On Nov. 27, the Hawks devastatingly lost a non-conference game 28-72 against the Catholic Memorial high school Crusaders. 

Monestime said he was not surprised with how the Lions played because his coaching staff gave him and his teammate a lot of film to watch in order to prepare.

In preparation for future games, he plans on improving his shooting accuracy. He also wants to go further in regionals compared to past seasons, and to make it to the State championship.

Head IT coach Robert VanDyke said his team still has a lot of progress to make across the board before the end of the season. 

“I thought Milwaukee came out with good energy and did some things early to make us uncomfortable,” he said. “I was happy we were able to settle in a bit. They played hard and gave great effort throughout.”

VanDyke said as COVID-19 most likely will have an effect on the season, he plans on following all protocols and controlling what he can control.

I want to see our players be model student athletes and represent IT in a positive way,” he said.

On another note, Monestime said the crowd’s presence definitely served a big impact.

“The crowd gave me so much energy Wednesday. Seeing people I’m friends with and my mom supporting me really helped,” he said. 

IT senior and forward Bryce Wallace also felt the crowd in the stands brought his game to the next level.

He also said it was a “blessing” to be able to play without masks on the court.

I think it’s great. It helps us breathe way better. The masks would get wet when we would play, so it’s just overall 100% better playing without one,” Wallace said.

Wallace has a long term goal as to what he wants his senior year basketball season to look like. 

“Our main goal is to win a state championship especially after last season, but we still have a long way to go as a team and individuals,” he said. “Personally, I plan to be the best on-court- and-off-the-court leader I can be to help our team be the best and lead us to victory.”

Later that week, on Dec. 3, IT blew Pulaski High School off the court with a score of 71-23, and is at a 2-1 overall record. Pulaski stays at a 1-3 overall record.