The Salesianum basketball team, which won the State Championship last year, is coming out and struggling. Salesianum is in its toughest games right now playing “big-time out-of-state” teams and players. Salesianum is supposed to be the best team in Delaware and is playing like they are the worst. The losses and the “players” mental game brought the team chemistry down. The coaches are very upset with how they have been playing, and the community is very concerned if they will go back to back like they wanted to.
The slump that they were in last year, and they got out of that and went on to go be state champions. Some of the keys to them losing these games are how they are acting and what they are focused on. The amount of turnovers they have had is insane, and missed free throws following that lack of defense. (Interview coaches( trev). Some difficult challenges that the team is facing is going into games thinking that they are not as good as we think they are, and then they go out losing by 10 or more because they don’t take it seriously.
The team is dealing with the losing streak well. They are motivated more than ever and ready to go get that back-to-back state championship ring. The leaders are stepping up, taking control, and ensuring everyone is ready for each game and practice. The leaders are making sure everyone is focused, on time, and prepared. The coach in their last loss said that they are looking at taking away minutes from certain players and getting more players in. The players are locked in more than ever and the coaches are planning for game days five days in advance. Players are watching films constantly and paying attention to what they need to improve on.
With the losses being there there are multiple players that are showing that they want this state chip more than ever. Zack Swartout plays incredible defense and rebounds the ball like he is a big man and gets open players the ball for shots. Justin Hinds is scoring around 15 to 20 points a game, playing solid defense and getting rebounds. Kareem Thomas is shooting the ball extremely well, following Hinds with around 12 to 18 points a game. Isaiah Hynson is playing very well, he knows where everyone is and finds open teammates shooting the ball well and finishing with around 10 to 20 points a game. They are having probably one of the hardest seasons Salesianum Basketball has had in a very long time. They played against a top 20 team in the country called Dematha Catholic High School from Maryland and only lost by 7 points, with the final score being 60 to 67. They are playing against William Penn from Delaware today, this Friday, at 7:30. Then moving on to play Howard and then against Bishop McNamara High School.
The Salesianum Basketball team is on their way to winning the state championship, and they are challenged against William Penn tonight. If the Salesianum Basketball team plays as a team and locks in on putting the team first, then they will be better than ever, and then they will be state Champions again.
