By, Gabriel Schray | JTV Sports | December 19th, 2018
Jackson, Michigan- The Vandy Jayhawk boys basketball team is off to an incredible start. The team has strung together a 6-1 record to open the year- with their only loss by a margin of a single bucket. Just one year ago the team only won a pair of games, going 2-19. Those days are long gone for Vandercook Lake’s varsity basketball team.
Their season opened at Springport with a 65-43 win. They stayed on the road for two games. Traveling to Concord and then Stockbridge. Winning by margins of 64-48 and 60-54. They then played at home twice in a row. First against Manchester and then East Jackson. The wins were impressive. The first 86-74 in overtime, and then 68-46.
Following a 5-0 start, they lost their first game. But only by a single bucket. They travelled to Addison and barely fell to the Panthers, 54-56. However, they followed that up with a win. 64-50 the final over Grass Lake on their home court. Tonight the Jayhawks play the Comets of Hanover-Horton.
When asked what had led to the success, Head Coach James Bradley didn’t hesitate before answering “a lot of paying attention to the details and kids working hard. They have bought into the philosophy.” Bradley described his roster as unselfish, hard working and says that the guys really enjoy seeing each other be successful. “They enjoy seeing each other and spending time together. I’m just ecstatic with where we’re at right now.”
Vandercook Lake Boys Varsity Basketball Team:
“The most important win of the year was the first win. That game set the tone. We got that win under our belt and it was tremendous for our psyche. They picked it right up and now- even in practice, they get into drills and go without nearly as much pushing,” said the Jayhawks Head Coach.
Coach Bradley also says this a team that responds to adversity well. Something that he believes is very important in both winning basketball games- and life. “These are leaders in the making,” said the Coach. “They’ll face adversity throughout their life. This is preparing them for life. They’ll start to expect it. And then when it happens in life, they’ll be ready to respond.”
The success of the Jayhawk team has been spurred on by Darius Dukes and Torrey Higgs. The two have been critical on the floor, adding significant statlines. Deylon Johnson has “stepped up” in a few games as well in these games prior to the Christmas Break. Coach Bradley told JTV Sports that Isaac Clintworth has been critical on defense. Jeff Adams, a Junior Forward has also pitched in beyond the statline.
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