Boys Basketball Gets First Win In Linn
After opening the year with seven tough losses, Sullivan (1-7) capped off December with a taste of victory. The Eagles snatched their first win of the season at the 63rd Legends Bank Holiday Classic in Linn. They snapped their losing skid with a 55-35 rout over the hosting Wildcats (0-11) on Friday, Dec. 20.
Head coach Kobe Wands seized his first victory at the helm for the Eagles. He believes the win will be a stepping stone for their future success. “Anytime you have a team 0-7 or have not won a game yet, you worry about how [the] energy is going to be,” the coach stated. “And thankfully, in our situation, that’s not the case with our guys. We’re still battling hard in practice, getting ready to go and having a positive mindset. And so, really, it’s just staying on that path, and then success will eventually come. And [against Linn], thankfully, it did.”
Sullivan dropped its first two rounds of the Holiday Classic, falling 69-32 to Osage (7-1) and 65-41 to Russellville (6-4). They rebounded with a win over Linn to finish seventh in the tournament.
Wands was excited to see Landen Doza return to the court against Russellville. The sophomore guard started his first game after overcoming an injury. The coach described Doza as “an attacking machine,” saying, “He’s an athletic specimen for sure, and it’s great to have him back. And you know his future is very, very bright, considering he’s only practiced for four days out of the last 28.”
During Winter Break, the Eagles plan to refine some areas that plagued them in December. They are working on reducing their turnovers and increasing their confidence with the ball.
Wands looks forward to next year when Sullivan will have a healthier roster. He is ready to see former leading scorer Chris Glaser return halfway through January. The coach shared, “We’ve not played a game where we’ve had everybody back and healthy and ready to go. Hopefully, in 2025, we can stay on that path of getting everybody back and then getting everybody to gel together.”
As the Eagles have faced some early trials, Wands could not be any prouder of his team for showing grit and striving to improve. “The level that we’re practicing at and the willingness of these guys to actually get better has really, really impressed me,” he stated. “Every single day, you can see the improvement in these guys. And so, over this Christmas break, we’ll definitely get some work in, and we’ll get ready for the second part of the season.”
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