Boys basketball looks to move up in conference race
Homestead looks to come out on top against Whitefish Bay and keep fighting for second place in conference.
Coming off a couple days of practice, Homestead’s varsity boys basketball team takes on conference rival Whitefish Bay on Friday, Feb. 19 at 5:45 p.m. as it tries to make its way back up in the conference race heading into the end of the season.
Because of this game, the team has raised the intensity of its practices this week. “We’ve practiced really well this week and have amped up the intensity in every practice,” Noah Check, senior, said.
“We have been spending most of our practice time working on our defensive principles and fundamentals, our offensive execution as well as a number of passing and shooting drills,” Assistant Coach Steve O’Brien said.
In order to come out with the victory in this tough game, the team feels like there are still many things they can improve on for this game even though they have been starting to play as one.
“Bay is an athletic team so we just have to play harder and smarter than them in every aspect. We have finally been playing well as a team and have found our rhythm,” Check said.
“In order to be successful against Bay we have to be very active on defense limiting dribble penetration into the lane and covering their three-point shooters. On offense we have to limit our turnovers. We have to slow the game down and pass effectively against their defensive pressure,” Coach O’Brien said.
“We’ve played them already so we have an idea of how to play them; we need to get back on the break and get a hand up on shooters. They have been getting out in front of teams and getting easy transition points which is a problem for us so that’s the key. But we can definitely come out on top,” Justen Newby, senior, said.
“Lately, we have been playing a lot better team-basketball. Some of our young guys are growing up and stepping into bigger roles on the court. We’re shooting a lot better but need to take care of the ball and have less turnovers,” Jacob Urban, senior, said.
If the team comes out with a victory against the Blue Dukes, it feels like it would give them lots of momentum and allow them to keep rising in the conference race.
“We just need to put everything together and fight for second or third in conference,” Urban said. “A win here would be sick because we could tie for second in conference which would be an amazing story considering we started out the season 1-7,” Newby said.
“This is a very important North Shore Conference game as Whitefish Bay, Cedarburg and Homestead are all competing for second place. This would be a major accomplishment for us considering our very rough start to the season. The win also helps build confidence and momentum going into the final couple of regular season games and the playoffs,” Coach O’Brien said.
“This win would guarantee us the third spot in conference and a chance for second. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Check out baby,” Check said.
Jake Elchert is a junior on the varsity hockey team this year. He is also a three sport athlete at Homestead. Elchert also plays on Homestead's Baseball...
