If there is one thing that all high school coaches try to preach to their athletes it is commitment.
“It takes a great deal of dedication to be involved in sports. To be a good player, you have to spend a great deal of time practicing on your own, as well as with your team,” boy’s varsity basketball head coach Mark Murphy said.
While Murphy always instills this mentality in his players, he also knows that a pledge is required academically, as well.
“We stress their academics first, because if they do not pass their classes, they are not eligible to play anyhow. It is a huge commitment that athletes have to make,” Murphy said.
The varsity basketball team got off to a great 17-2 non-district record, but things started to slide downhill when district play started.
“Our players realized that the second round of district was going to be crucial if we were going to make the playoffs. We began focusing on our main goal and that was to make the playoffs,” Murphy said.
After a slew of injuries, and some players put on academic suspension, the team had to really grind out the end of district play.
“We had some injuries that hurt us, as well as some other players out, so we had to adjust our rotations and, after a while, our chemistry became better,” Murphy said.
The team’s last two games, a 62-54 win against Lee and a 65-53 win at Madison, show that the players on the court have adjusted to their roles.
Now that the Brahmas have clinched a playoff spot, all focus has been turned that way.
“I hope we win our first playoff game. If we continue to work hard and play together, hopefully good things will happen in the playoffs,” Murphy said.
