By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After a winless 2021-22 campaign, the Chapman boy's basketball team is slowly putting the pieces together, and will enter the final month of their season at 3-10.
The Irish collected a big 55-50 victory in their most recent outing over Holton and will look to parlay that success into more of the same in the team’s final seven games, but will face some tough customers including Clay Center, Southeast of Saline, Abilene, Wamego, and Rock Creek.
Throughout the season, the Irish have tried to put an emphasis on the things that they can control, leaning into themes of attitude, confidence, discipline, and growth.
“The best thing I’ve seen is our willingness to improve and get better,” Chapman head coach Drew Gruver said. “I think for the most part our guys have continued to give good effort in practice and continue to learn and get better.”
That improvement can be seen in Chapman’s results even if it’s been less apparent in the win column, as the Irish suffered six 20+ point defeats in their first eight games, but are 2-3 in their last five, without a single blowout of that margin.
“We’re not making as many turnovers as we were at the beginning of the year,” Gruver said. “We’re doing a better job of beating teams that press us as well.”
All of that is not to say that the Irish are content with where they are, as Chapman continues to work to right the ship and continue building through a tough schedule.
“We have to buy into playing harder on the defensive end and getting stops,” he said. “We are not playing tough enough on that end of the floor to give us a chance to win. Offensively we’re taking too many quick and contested shots. We also need to trust our teammates and believe in ourselves and each other.”
With a February gauntlet ahead before sub-state, Chapman will continue to keep their focus on the things that are within reach, and trust that with steady growth, the results will come.
“I think the best thing we can do in the second half of the season is to compete each and every time we step on the floor, whether that’s at practice or in games,” Gruver said. “We need to focus on the things that we can control such as defense, rebounding, playing hard, playing as a team, and believing in ourselves. If we do that I think we will have a chance to win some games and finish the season better than we have started.”
The Irish will be back on the hardwood on Tuesday, January 31st when Chapman travels to Clay Center for a tilt with the Tigers.
For continuing coverage of Champan hoops all season long stay tuned to the Salina Post.