During their off-season, the team was focused on building their chemistry up, as well as staying as disciplined as they can for their season.
During the annual Hoops for Healing tournament which kicks off the season, the team showed what they can do on the court as a team with wins against West Aurora and Rockford Guildford.
In the Guildford game, OH senior basketball player Brayden Borrowman hit a three-pointer in the last remaining seconds to win the game 59-58. Borrowman averaged 7.7 points and 7 rebounds in all three games, followed by OH junior basketball player Tj Wilson, who averaged 4.7 points and two rebounds.
Sophomore stand-out Ethan Vahl also had a great performance, averaging 26.3 points, six rebounds, and three assists in the three tournament games. Vahl is expected to be a key player in this team’s season and a player to watch.
“This off-season, we started with 5:00 am workouts before school, and we had lots of attendance,” Borrowman said. “How they would show up on the court can be a really hard-working team, we learned what hard work was during this off-season, we’re gonna keep on pushing each other to be successful.”
According to the players, the team learned how to be hardworking in the off-season and take on leadership roles to help one another out.
“As one of the older people on the team, I see myself helping the younger guys, making sure they do what they need this year and years moving forward,” said OH senior basketball player Jaxon Woods.
As one of the younger players on the team, sophomore Vahl finds himself stepping up to be a leader for his team and help push his teammates to succeed.
“I think that the age shouldn’t matter to be a leader,” Vahl said, “so I think that me being able to set the standard and the tone already can help the team’s chemistry.”
Head Coach Nick Orham reiterated confidence in his younger varsity players, too. “[Sophomore] MJ Johnson is gonna be our starting point guard. He’s got a really good summer with us, so we’re gonna throw him into the fire,” Orham said.
Johnson averaged 5.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in the Hoops for Healing tournament. As a new key role player to this season’s team, who had a great off-season, everyone will be keeping an eye out for him to see what he can do.
“This year, [sophomore] Cole Jansen’s has been a positive surprise,” Orham added. “He’s grown about three inches since freshman year, and he’s going to get a lot of playing time this year as well. Jaxon Woods had a good offseason. He’s going to see a kind of increased role compared to what he did last year, and he’s a senior.”
Jansen averaged six points and six rebounds in the tournament, who is also a new addition to the team, standing at seven feet as a sophomore and found himself in another key role for this team’s season.
The team currently has a 3-1 record, and with multiple additions and new roles to the team, it will be an interesting team to watch this year as they work toward their goals.
“I want to win the regional championship,” Coach Orham said. “And I want to beat OE.”
The Panthers play tonight at 6:30 at Bollingbrook High School.
My name is Eduardo, this is my first year on 42Fifty, I am a Staff Reporter, and I am a senior. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication.
Hi, I am Ryan King. This is my first year on the 42Fifty staff. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
