Boys freshman basketball finds success through togetherness

The freshman boys basketball team defeated the Edison Eagles 55 to 46 on Thursday, Jan. 18 in a team effort filled with ball-movement, unselfishness and enthusiasm that the team has been perfecting throughout the course of the season.

Last time the Statesmen faced the Eagles, Marshall was victorious by a larger than 20-point margin. However, starter Andrew Heiden said that he knew Edison would be a greater threat this time around.

“Last time we played Edison we beat them by 20 points or so,” Heiden said. “We knew they were going to be a better team than they were last time; however, we are also way better than last time, so… we knew that if we played our game and didn’t let them speed us up we would get the job done.”

Heiden also talked about his role on the team in a way that displayed his unselfishness that stems from good team chemistry.

“I like to drive and score, but if someone has a better look [than me], I’m going to pass,” Heiden said.

Starter Jad Kanaan also talked about the team’s growth since learning to play together.

“We have improved at playing as a team and not individually,” Kanaan said. “[We use] our teammates to help us be better on the court.”

Reyn Butterworth addressed his value on the importance of being a good teammate.

“I figured that if I’m not going to get a lot of playing time I should at least be a good teammate,” Butterworth said. “So far, in the games where the bench has been enthusiastic, we have played much better as a team.”

The freshman boys basketball team has come to realize that success originates from togetherness, and they hope to have continued achievement through their unselfish play.