Competing in a lively four games in just one week, the freshman basketball team came out on top in their first, with a 6 point win over Mesquite. Then, over the course of a weekend, Jesuit Freshman Gold played 3 back-to-back, heated games against other district teams in a Plano East tournament. Optimistic and ripe with the talent, Jesuit Basketball’s freshman potential performed with a confident reliability.
Andrew Merrick ’20, a forward on the Freshman Gold team, commented positively on the team’s performance. Overall, Merrick thinks that the team’s success has been well above satisfactory, stating that the team is “looking pretty good.” His opinion reflects an overall resounding enthusiasm surrounding the sport every practice. While new players may struggle with the pressure of being placed on the spot in the heat of the moment, our Freshman team seems to be doing well under the weight of watching eyes.
Another forward from the Freshman team, Evan Blackmon ’20, shares a similar view. He feels that the team is “starting to gel nicely,” which, through dedication and practice, “is starting to show on the court.” However, Blackmon noticed a problem the team has currently encountered. With so much talent on the court, and a limited amount of possessions in a single game, players may struggle with sharing the ball. As the team spends more time with each other, however, cooperative coherence is sure to accompany the new bond.
Teambuilding is an exhaustive and time-consuming. The task absorbs time and effort, but the rewards reaped offer a net benefit for everyone involved, especially a newly formed group of student athletes. The further into the winter basketball season they get, the more cohesive the team will become, as time will build comfort and trust in one’s fellow athletes. The student body eagerly places faith in the future of Jesuit freshmen athletic potential.
