Watching from the sidelines, spectators could feel the intense atmosphere of the gym fill them with thrill and excitement. Each bounce of the ball on the court imbues the space with anticipation. The players’ eyes scanned across the gym, looking for the correct play. Suddenly, the ball was passed to a player ready to shoot, and the crowd erupted into cheers for Concord Academy’s Junior Varsity Boys Basketball team as the ball left the player’s hand and landed squarely in the hoop.
Led by coach Adam Simon and team captain Tiemoko Camara ’29, the JV Boys Basketball team has had a great season, with a record of 7-2 at the time of writing. Team manager Sydney Champagne ’29 remarked, “They are a really good team, and they work splendidly together.” Throughout the course of the season, the players have worked to become a more cohesive unit, as learning how to think as a team, instead of as individuals, is key to their success. After all, basketball is not an individual sport; it demands strong collaboration from its athletes.
Oftentimes, the team will spend their practice doing scrimmages, where they split up into two groups and play a game against each other. This exercise forces the athletes to improve their communication skills in a game-like scenario, as scrimmages involve students shouting out plays they want to try or yelling that someone is open and ready to receive the ball. Beyond improving athletes' communication, scrimmages also foster a friendly sense of competitiveness, pushing players to try their best even though it is not a real game.
Outside of the athletes and coaches that make up the basketball team, the team managers also play a role in fostering a supportive environment. While at first the team managers did not think much of their position, they quickly developed a strong attachment to the team. Champagne shared that she enjoys talking to players about the game, and her fellow team manager Aaira Dutt ’29 commented, “I feel like I am a part of the process.”
Overall, the Boys JV Basketball Team has had a great season, and their improvement in not only teamwork, but also becoming a more close-knit community is truly admirable.