By Samantha Gilbert
While not much was expected from a team that lost ten seniors last year, four big returners and new blood from JV has recreated a team that is determined, dedicated, and dominant.
Earlier this season, Varsity coach Doug Donnellan certainly had high expectations for his new team, but he had no idea how deep a run they would make. Even with the leadership and experience that the four returners brought, Donnellan was heavily relying on the immediate impact of the varsity newcomers. “Cade Yongue, Dane Wells, Jasper Verduin, James Hamilton and Brandon Vergara have all stepped in and acted like they’ve been on varsity before,” Donnellan said.
While these boys have quickly adjusted to the varsity level of play, they admit it was a big transition. Not only are the players bigger, stronger, and more skilled, according to Yongue, the intensity is also heightened. “There is less room for error at this level and it definitely requires a higher level of focus,” said Yongue, while Verduin added, “last year the games really only meant something to the us and now they mean something to pretty much the entire school.”
The newcomers to the varsity team knew that they had to step their game up to have a successful season, and that is exactly what they have done. “My focus for each game is to help the team in any way possible. Whatever I can do to make the help make the team successful I try to do,” Yongue said. “We play as a team and have each other’s backs, and that has made it a really fun season.”
Wells agrees with Yongue—each player tries to fills their own role on the court. “Its been great contributing to such a successful team,” Wells said. “Everyone has really bonded and we all mesh very well together.”
According to Donnellan, being an underdog all year has been encouraged the team to play with a sense of inspiration. “When we play teams that are supposedly better than us, we play our best ball,” said Donnellan. “The problem has been playing teams that are supposedly worse than us because we tend to coast. Changing that will be a big focus for next year.”
Hamilton concurs with Donellan, claiming that they play better when they are scared of the other team. “We like to be genuinely concerned about our opponent,” Hamilton said. “We talk about every game like it’s our last.”
Lately though, they have only been playing highly ranked teams, which could be why they have managed to sustain this winning streak. Recently, before each game, Donnellan has been telling his team to “have fun, be aggressive and play like you expect to win.” While many of the pre-game talks consist of analyzing the opposing team, the latest talks focus on dreaming big to accomplish great things, according to Donnellan.
As for the state championship game this Friday, Donnellan is expecting Chaminade, who is easily the best team they have played this year, to come out with pressure right from the tip-off. He thinks the game will come down to how well Drake can handle Chaminade’s defensive pressure. “This team [Chaminade] has all the pieces for success,” Donnellan said.
The turnout to the Northern California championship game last Saturday really surprised Donnellan and the team is looking forward to the energy the fans will supply on Friday because, according to Verduin, the players feed off of it. Hamilton agrees that crowd energy is key. “When we step out on the floor, nothing gets us more pumped than the roar of our friends cheering us on,” Hamilton said. “The crazy atmosphere it provides makes us want to leave everything on the floor and hold nothing back.”
Although it won’t be easy, our school could potentially win the state championship. “Chaminade has four players that could have all been MVPs in our league,” said Donnellan. “We have to put in our best effort and believe in ourselves in order to pull this one off.”
Jolly Roger 