Coming into this season, The Tiger Basketball team has a lot to prove, and they are looking to quiet the naysayers with arguably one of the most talented teams in recent school history.  

Starting off the season on a tremendous wave of momentum, The varsity Tigers have won every game obtaining a fresh 7-0 record on the young season.  With big wins against stellar competition like Du Quoin and the previously undefeated Benton Rangers, it is no secret that the Tigers have one of the most talented teams in all of Southern Illinois.

The team has also had a wave of support coming in from the community, with the team carrying a large wave of support through the first two home games of the season.  With the band playing fan favorite songs, and the crowd hanging on to every play, The Tigers put an end to Benton’s undefeated streak, and put away Carbondale in convincing fashion on back to back nights.

While our team is full of immense talent, a team is only successful when each member is able to come together, and coexist.  We recently asked senior Fox Connor about the bond between him and his fellow teammates, and he put into perspective the importance of coming together as a team when it matters most.  Connor stated that by going at each other in practice, it has made each player more competitive when it comes to game time. 

When asked about how much the team has bonded compared to the previous season, he went on to say that “We are battling other schools now,  instead of ourselves.” The team has worked on coming together as a unit, and they are focusing on taking down the top teams in Southern Illinois.

Fox ended by emphasizing that upcoming matches against Murphysboro, Carbondale, and the blackout game against Marion “will each prove to be big tests for the team.”

After reaching out to an experienced veteran of the team, we wanted to find out what the team experience was like for a player who is still a fresh-faced member of the HHS basketball squad.  Kyreese Lukens, a Sophmore, has been a breakout member of the team since last season, quickly becoming a cornerstone of an already extremely talented Herrin team.  Kyreese spoke about how always keeping a positive attitude helps to boost team morale. In regards to team bonding, Lukens spoke on the fact that “we have all gotten a little older and more mature.” He also went on to express that “having more senior leadership has helped us have a closer bond as a team.”  

The Herrin Tigers are well on their way to having another standout season, but there will be many tough tests throughout the conference. Despite this, the Tigers could take basketball by storm, and win it all when the season is all said and done.