Counting Down The Days: Players Give Their Insights on Championship Week
Trey Ostrom 
The term “Hoosier Hysteria” is never more valid than it is today, as 8 of the best high school basketball teams in the state play for one common objective: a state championship.
We reached out to 1 to 2 of the best players on a multitude of these teams to ask about their experiences throughout championship week. They were all presented the same question:
“How has the team been this week leading up to state? Any differences between this week and any other? Anything to add that’s notable from this week?”
We reached out to Devin Collins, a senior on North Daviess, and presented him with the question above. Collins assured us that business followed as normal for the Cougars stating, “The team had been completely locked in and were ready to go at every practice. There is really no difference between this week and any other because our team has been together and bonded every night after practice.” He also mentioned that “We are all excited and (we have) a fun group but when it comes time to lock in and play we do it.”
For Central Noble, it seems as if they are even more locked in than normal according to Wisconsin commit Conner Essegian and senior star Ryan Schroeder. Essegian mentioned, “As a team this entire week we’ve been more locked in and ready than we ever have. Knowing this is our last game together no matter what has given us an extra drive to pull together one last time and come out with a W.” Schroeder added on to that statement saying, “Our group of seniors, as well as the rest of the team, want to finish strong on top and go out how we want to.”
Mishawaka Marian’s Richard Brooks was just recently named to the large school All-State team and looks to have a promising collegiate career. As a senior, Brooks has been enjoying this week stating, “This week we’ve been really close, hanging out a lot and just making the most out of the week because this is our last week together and as a senior, I’m just cherishing my last moments as a knight.” Nonetheless, the knights are still busy at work preparing for a tough matchup against Beech Grove. “… we just lock in at practice during key moments that we need to be so we can be ready for the game Saturday,” Richard Brooks told us.
Beech Grove knows they have a tough game in front of them if they want to come out victorious and as state champs. Junior guard Jeremiah Alexander stated to us, “We know that they have a tough team… we just need to stay locked in, sit down and guard.”
Cathedral has had an unbelievable postseason coming out victorious over a list of teams which includes Arsenal Tech, Ben Davis, and Bloomington North. Jaxon Edwards, a Murray State commit, has played a large role in the Irish’s success. “(There’s) big differences in the schedule and energy going into this Saturday but we’re trying to keep everything as routine as we can to stay focused and locked in the whole way through till Saturday,” the D1 commit told us.
