Myles Pollack
Contributing Writer
Men’s Varsity basketball team has an 13-4 record with its next home game being against the number one ranked team in Illinois, Quincy High School, on Feb. 5.
Coach Justin Mathes, senior Brady Schuettpelz and the nationally recognized freshman Miles Simpson all agree that one of the biggest issues the team has faced is inconsistency in practices and drills, which has led to losses.
Schuettpelz said, “We had a tough loss to Marquette, but since then, we’ve been getting better every day in practice, and we’re on like a three game win streak right now. So I think we’re heading in the right direction.”
Mathes also hoped that their practices will pay off. He said, “Guys are beginning to understand that you can’t win all four quarters of a game if you can’t win seven of eight drills in practice. We’re starting to look like what WG teams have been known for: toughness, togetherness and relentlessness.”
”We play one of the hardest schedules in the state,” Mathes continued. “We focus more on the process than specific goals. If we can put in consistent work to improve every day, then we’ll take our chances in March when the playoffs hit.”
Schuettpelz said, “I think it’s gotten better when we’re all working as one and moving the ball and getting along. Then it definitely helps us and contributes to our success in a big way.”
Simpson agreed, “Everybody’s in more shape, [we’re] all playing harder, and [we’re] all pushing each other way harder than we did at the start of the season.”
The last time the team played University City before this week was on Feb. 8, 2023, when the Statesmen won 53-48. After Webster’s 74-58 victory on Jan. 29, University City and its 69-40 victory over Hazelwood Central on Jan. 31, the team has eight games left until Districts.
About the upcoming schedule, Coach Mathes said, ”It’s a bit cliche, but every team presents different challenges and opportunities to improve. One of the beautiful things about basketball is there are so many different styles that the game can be played, and you never know how different matchups will go. We try to impose our style of play on the other team and make sure the game resembles our practice more than theirs.”
Simpson said, ”I think we really do have a good chance of going towards State if we all keep pushing each other real hard in practice.”
Mathes agreed, “A Conference championship, District championship and State title are always goals our guys strive for.”
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