PLYMOUTH — With some big losses from a year ago, Plymouth’s Pilgrims hope that togetherness will be a big part of a successful season.
“We lost some key guys from last year but we learned some things about this group of guys in the summer,” said Plymouth coach Ryan Bales. “Watching us this first week it’s really good to see us come together. It’s a competitive group that’s had a lot of fall sports success and that means they are coming in with a great mindset and now it’s just getting them into basketball shape.”
Once again toughness will need to be the trademark of the Pilgrims.
“We aren’t blessed with size which is normal around here but that’s where the toughness comes in,” said Bales. “There is a lack of varsity experience but I hope these guys have a chip on their shoulder and come out trying to prove people wrong.
“A huge key for us is going to be composure,” said Bales. “That’s something I think we may have to battle all season. Sometimes when you get mad you play harder, sometimes you get mad and you get a quick foul, or you can lose it mentally. We have to keep composure and poise.”
It will take composure right out of the gate as Plymouth will have to play opening night on the road at one of the toughest gyms for an opponent to win in — The Aerie at John Glenn.
“We will be challenged very early,” said Bales. “Glenn has a great returning core of players and Coach (Travis) Hannah does a great job. And talk about needing to keep your composure, you go over there and have to deal with the band, it’s loud and tough to hear in huddles and that’s getting thrown into the fire right away.”
With the NLC season, combined with a tough non-conference season and a realigned sectional assignment it will be a challenging year.
“We are switching sectionals but it’s not going to be any easier,” said Bales. “It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves and look at that but we believe in ourselves here and I know our guys will compete hard.”
“I want to see us play together,” said Bales. “We have some very good individual players and a lot of guys that can do some things but you have to come together and play a certain way and do it together. You can tell when a team is connected and they play that way.”
We’ve got some guys starting to figure some things out and it’s good for us to see that.”
You can listen to all Plymouth basketball games here on WTCA 106.1 FM and AM1050
Plymouth Pilgrims
Coach: Ryan Bales, 122-67 in 9th year at school, 206-119 in 15th year overall
Nov. 27 at John Glenn 3A 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 30 New Prairie 3A 7:45 p.m.
Dec. 3 at Triton 1A 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 6 South Bend Adams 4A 7:45 p.m.
Dec. 10 Winamac 2A 7:45 p.m.
Dec. 13 Gary Roosevelt 2A 7:45 p.m.
Dec. 20 at NorthWood 3A © 7:45 p.m.
Dec. 27 South Bend Riley 4A 7:45 p.m.
Jan. 3 Knox 3A 12:00 p.m. tournament
Jan. 7 at Michigan City 4A 8 p.m.
Jan. 10 at Elkhart Memorial 4A © 7:45 p.m.
Jan. 11 at Tippecanoe Valley 3A 7:45 p.m.
Jan. 17 Concord 4A © 7:45 p.m.
Jan. 24 Wawasee 3A © 7:45 p.m.
Jan. 31 Northridge 4A © 7:45 p.m.
Feb. 1 Mishawaka 4A 8:15 p.m.
Feb. 6 at Goshen 4A © 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 8 at Westview 2A 2:30 p.m.
Feb. 14 at Warsaw 4A © 7:45 p.m.
Feb. 18 at Penn 4A 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 South Bend St. Joseph 3A 7:45 p.m.
© NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE GAME
