The highly-ranked Marist RedHawks boys basketball team started their season off hot. They currently sit at 7-0 and the players, coaches, managers, and fans are all excited for what is yet to come.
The team came into the season with high expectations. They are ranked #14 in Illinois on MaxPreps, the largest national database for high school athletics, and an affiliate of CBS Sports. The team is also ranked #10 in Illinois on the popular Instagram account for Illinois sports @SlocheOfficial.
With high rankings early into the season, it can be easy for athletes to be affected by the pressure to perform. The team tries to block out any outside expectations.
“The main factor to manage potential pressure and expectations is to just ignore the noise,” says Assistant Coach Joseph Pettinger. “What matters is the opinions of the people within the program. If the team focuses on the team itself, everything else will take care of itself.”
Early in the season, the team set the bar high by being crowned champions of the Turkey Tip-Off Invitational at Victor J. Andrew High School over Thanksgiving break. The team went undefeated and looked dominant every step of the way.
“My favorite part of the season so far has to be the tournament win,” says junior manager Zachary Larson. “The team was firing on all cylinders.”
The team’s most dominant game of the season so far came in a 97-53 impressive victory vs Eisenhower. Marist started the game off hot and never looked back. Everyone on the team was able to contribute in this lopsided victory for the RedHawks.
“It was just a complete game where everyone on the team was given a chance to shine in a big win,” says Larson.
Senior forward Marquis Vance led the way during this game with 18 points and 9 rebounds, scoring many of these points off of offensive rebounds. He was followed by junior forward Karson Thomas with 17 points, junior guard Adoni Vassailakis with 14 points, sophomore forward Kendall Meyers with 10 points, and junior guard Ryan Lawlor, who finished the game with 9 points. The RedHawks dominated this game as a result of teamwork and determination.
“We spend a lot of time together to build up chemistry,” says Lawlor. “It really shows on the court that we can trust each other and play without hesitation.”
The players and coaches both agree that the strength of this young team is the connection they have built with each other over the past year. They continue to grow together through outside activities, like team dinners.
“This group really enjoys being around each other, especially off the court,” says Pettinger. “These daily connections continue to build a powerful team chemistry that can help us win a lot of tough games. “
The RedHawks are looking forward to the rest of their season.
“With the amount of talent we have this year, our expectation is to go all the way and win state this year,” says Lawlor.
