After football season ends, it feels like the school is in a drought for entertainment. That is, until basketball season comes around. Six out of ten sophomore students say that they prefer watching basketball over football, so what does South have to offer that provides this intrigue?
Basketball season starts in late November and ends in late March -depending on how well the team does. This year, we can expect a lot of games and entertainment based on the confidence from the boys’ and girls’ head varsity coaches, Jeff Howard and Alana Warren.
“We are starting over because last year we graduated 10 seniors, so it is going to take a lot of new development, [but] they have been very open-minded to change and learning new things; so I’m optimistic,” Howard said.
Similar to Howard, Warren feels like her team could uphold her expectations for winning the conference tournament and even beyond that.
“I am very optimistic. We have a good returning group, and I’m expecting great things from these [players],” Warren said.
Although the teams have a lot of chemistry and flashiness on the court to captivate the audience, coaches and scouts aren’t looking for that kind of playing style. After previous deliberation with coaches here, the majority look for a player with a lot of heart and drive, as well as being hard-working and skilled in their position.
Some players on the varsity team that Howard says he’s excited to see are the wings Khalil Truman and Brandon Poole, shooting guard Braden Adler, point guard Ayden Foston, and center Isaiah Robertson. All of these young men demonstrate a strong work ethic and a promising future.
As for the girls’ varsity team, Warren is looking forward to coaching freshman Brooke McDonald, sophomore Sophia Reynoso, and seniors Layla Lesure, Makayla Hill, Laniya Willis, and Asia Sudberry.
I am a huge fan of basketball, whether it be boys or girls, so hearing about the performances during the first season tournaments over fall break with both teams had me excited for what they have to offer.
The girls’ varsity team went 2-1 in the tournament, securing wins early to set the tone for their upcoming game on Dec. 18 at Sycamore High School. Unfortunately, the boys’ team didn’t perform at the highest level and went 1-3, still having to prove that they can take down Plaifield Central High School at their court on Dec. 19.
With a lot riding on this season since the lack of seniors is taking a toll on the team, Howard says there is a lot of pressure riding on this season since last year’s team tied the school record for the most wins. This team is “going to have to work hard to better that, [but] are capable of doing hard things”, so he has put a lot of faith in the lineup.
There is no doubt that these coaches are capable of taking these teams to the finish line as Howard has experience coaching collegiate at Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana, for two years, leading his team to a win in the county tournament almost 15 years ago.
Warren is also an honorable coach, starting the first girls’ flag football team at Plainfield South and getting players like Carly Macdonald scholarship offers, as well as coaching girls’ basketball at the varsity level for many years.
With trustworthy lineups and promising players, I see both basketball teams making it to conference -if not state- tournaments and leading the schools’ basketball franchise to new heights. Ball out, Cougars!
