By CathedralNation.com staff
Without question, things have been different.
And without question, Scott Hicks said that's because the Cathedral High School boys basketball team is young – very, very young – this season. And in high school sports, young not only means different, it means challenging and frustrating at times, too.
Here's what else Hicks said being young has meant this season:
It has meant being exciting. And interesting.
And pretty successful, too.
“The guys have had a tremendous attitude,” Hicks, in his 10th season as the Irish's head coach, told Cathedralnation.com recently. “They've worked extremely hard in practice and they're still learning. We're growing as a team.
“That has been sort of our motto: continue to improve every game. That's what they've been doing. They have shown a lot of progress, both on the offensive and defensive end and they've tried to learn what we're expecting.
“I've been very happy with what we've done.”
What the Irish have done thus far this season is maintain a level of consistency and success a year after the loss of several players key to program's recent success.
The Irish this past offseason lost nine seniors, a group that included not only Purdue freshman Kelsey Barlow but Cornell freshman Errick Peck, and a group that helped the Irish stay consistently in the state and area Top 10 in recent seasons.
The Irish have started two freshmen much of this season, and most of the team has spent the early part of the season learning and adapting to new roles. Still, Hicks said they have played solidly, been competitive and through January 26, they were 8-4 after a 61-48 loss to Broad Ripple in the City Tournament.
That snapped the Irish's streak of four consecutive City titles, but it didn't make Hicks less optimistic about his team.
“We're still trying to develop our identity,” Hicks said. “We're still trying to learn what we're good at. We're still learning, to be honest with you. I've been happy with our defense at times and our offense as well. I think we're still trying to find our identity and what we're really going to become.”
Key to that process has been the solid play of senior guard/forward Kofi Hughes, as well as senior guard Franqlin Gatson, junior guard Brandon Smith and senior forward Kevin Owens. It's a group that has played well despite new circumstances, Hicks said.
“We've asked a lot of the guys,” Hicks said. “They've had to change their roles from what they normally play. They've stepped up to the plate. We're asking guys who haven't been in that leadership position to lead the team and be assertive on the offensive end. Guys who might have taken two shots, now we're asking them to put up 8-to-10 shots a game.
“That's what makes it special, these guys accepting those roles. As coaches, we try to get these guys to understand how to play to their strengths.”
Just as key, Hicks said, have been two freshmen in the starting lineup: 6-foot-6 forward Collin Hartman and point guard David Hill. Hicks, who said he never has had a freshman start at true point guard in his nine previous seasons, said he expected to be young, but added with a laugh:
“I wasn't counting on being that young. I knew those guys would contribute, but they stepped up to the played and have played extremely well.”
Hicks said while a freshman point guard is unusual, and while there are the natural mistakes that are expected from a young player – “very, very little sleep” is how he jokingly described his nights this season – he said the bigger truth is that Hill has played remarkably consistently.
“As the point guard goes, the team goes – we ask a lot of those guys,” Hicks said. “But that's one of his strengths, is his poise, is decision-making, and his team play. That's what I love about him and he's a very, very good defensive player as well.
“They have done well,” he added of Hill and Hartman. “It's been a total team effort at both ends of the court. Any time you have two freshmen on the court starting, you better have some fun. You pull your hair out, but you have some fun.
“They've done tremendously well and they continue to work hard. They challenge each other in practice each day. That's what I've been impressed with, is the way they try to get better.”
And while Hicks was speaking about the freshman duo, he said the reality is he could have been speaking about an entire team that in a year of transition has helped the Irish maintain their level of play from the previous few years.
“We still have the pieces we've been working with and we're still trying to develop some chemistry and team concept,” Hicks said. “I've told a lot of people this: 'When you go into the season not really knowing what to expect, it makes it fun.' When you're building a chemistry, and seeing guys mature, it's a blast.
“Every game is a new game. We're learning things as coaches as well in every game we play. It's been a growing experience for the coaching staff as well as the players. We're enjoying it.”