The Lincoln Log

For basketball players this year, going to the championships looks promising with the help of their new coach, Mike Gragnani. The players, especially the seniors, are enthusiastic about this upcoming season because it is their last chance to prove that they have what it takes to beat everybody and go to championships.

“This is my last year to make championships; we’ve been one game away for two years in a row. This is going to be the year where we make it,” the team’s power forward senior Bobby Harrison said.

The players are hoping that their new coach will motivate them to do better and play harder this season. This team has been practicing vigorously; they’re on the court over three hours a day, six days a week since Sept. and are surely prepared for whatever comes up this season.

To these players, basketball isn’t just a game. It’s their passion. Not only has this sport enabled them to be better physically, it has also bettered them mentally and emotionally. Gragnani picked up from where the previous coach left off and is making the team rise straight to the top. Gragnani has made drastic changes to this team.

“I’m not familiar with the ways of the previous coach so I’m doing what I feel is best for the team,” Gragnani said.

Gragnani brought in a different system from last year, changed the bad habits of the players, kept them mentally prepared and well composed.

“Basketball is a game of habits and we’re trying to create as many good habits as we possibly can.” Gragnani said. “So I’m identifying what I would consider bad habits and trying to change their work ethics. I’m also concentrating and focusing on the little things on and off the court and hopefully we accomplish a lot this season.”

Since the start of the season, the basketball team hasn’t been defeated. The team, composed mainly of seniors has a strong bond between each other through the passion of basketball. Their bond has proved to be more than just a bond between teammates. The seniors have spent three year together as teammates, so naturally they do everything together: go to movies, clubs, and parties.

This is the seniors’ last year to win championships and they are now more motivated to not only win championships, but to be the 1st team in All City . The team is taking this season one game at a time. With the help of their new coach, who is remodeling the team to make them stronger and better, beating Lowell High School and making championships looks very promising this season. Go Mustangs!