The Northwood Omniscient

Basketball hopes to repeat last year's success

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 By Kimberly Miskow

When asked about the dynamics of the team, junior Antonio Farmer could only describe it as “a roomful of brothers.” The players on this year’s boys’ basketball team, which is 7-5 (6-1 in conference) through the first semester, all seem to agree that even with four newcomers taking the place of the four seniors missing from last year’s state runners-up, there is a strong season ahead for the Chargers. “We lost four seniors, but we’re still going to be good this year,” junior Juan Young said. “We’re going to work hard and we already have some people that are taking the place of the seniors.” Even though the Chargers suffered a heartbreaking loss last year at the State Championships, they view it as a beneficial experience. “It will motivate us more, and it shows that we can get there,” said senior Harold Baldwin. “We just have to work hard.” Part of the Chargers’ confidence comes from the fact that they know they work well as a team and that is part of what helps them win games. “Everyone gets along really well,” said junior Trá Chandler. “Since we get along really well, it’s good for the team because we can just get through things at practice without arguing and stuff.” Most of the Chargers attribute the closeness of the team to football; several were already teammates on the football team and then moved straight into basketball season. Those who do not play football slip right into the daily motions of the team. Other attributes of the team’s brother-ship include helping each other with homework and just general life problems, Farmer explained. Other team members, like senior Shane Peppers, attribute the bond to the team’s dynamics. “We bond because we’re just a bunch of funny people and we pick on each other and just be really cool with each other,” Peppers said. Spending so much time together both in and outside of practice also seems to be a factor in the team’s dynamic. “We’re like a family, we stick beside each other,” junior Dylan Davis said. “We go eat, hang out, all the good stuff. We come over to each other’s houses after or before practice.” Another factor in the Chargers’ success is that they all feel a personal responsibility to keep each other motivated and working to their full potential. “If someone’s not working hard, we tell them they’re not working hard and [that] they should start pushing themselves,” Baldwin said. As for making a reappearance at the State Championships this year, the boys are quite confident in their capabilities and thoroughly believe that a run back to the Dean Dome is viable. To help them reach their State Championship goal, the Chargers have recognized senior Ridge Smith as one who has been rising up to the occasion. “Ridge Smith, he leads by example, really, on the court and he gets us focused in practice and all that stuff,” said Davis. Though the Chargers recognize what a strong leader Smith is, they all feel as if they are important factors in the team’s success and everyone leads in some form. “I think we’re all leaders on the team…we just push each other on,” said Peppers. “I think we all just know what we need to do to get the job done.”