H-F’s boys varsity basketball team has lots of expectations to live up to. After last year’s team success in winning a state championship, the Vikings have lost good key players to that championship run. With the team losing important people due to graduation, skeptics wonder if the team could repeat.

Last year the team was full of star players, like point guard Gianni Cobb, who now plays for Columbia University, and guard Bryce Heard, who plays for North Carolina State University.

The Vikings are coached by personalized learning teacher Jamere Dismukes, who guided the talented team with discipline and leadership to the school’s first victory last season. But does this year’s team have what it takes and the skills to do the same?

“We expect repeated excellence and to continue to build upon the legacy,” junior varsity player Antwain Johnson said. “We expect to win throughout this season,”

With the team bringing in heavy hitters and more talent like freshman Darrius Hawkins and senior Arden Eaves to surround the vets on the squad, H-F brings in some quality talent and youth skills to fill in the talent that was lost. The team has gained 8 new players this year, making the team interesting as they face chemistry problems and leadership problems. This exciting young team has a lot of pressure and expectations on them to make this season a success. 

When asked about the expectations for the season, Dismukes said, “We just want to come out and play Viking basketball. We want to always be the best versions of ourselves and never get outworked. We will live with whatever results come with that. There will be a target on our backs all season long but I believe we have the student-athletes to embrace the target and give this school and the community something to be proud of.”

The Vikings are currently 4-0. Showing promising talent and chemistry after having blowout games. The blowouts consisted of going 65-25 against St. Francis De Sales, 78-31 against Hammond Central, and two close games, 58-45 against Marian Catholic, and 69-52 against Bloom Township. This fantastic run has been led by MVP Jayden Tyler. He has consistently shown leadership all around on the defensive and offensive side of the ball. The biggest contribution to the team’s success is the defensive side of the ball. They were able to lock down their opponents holding them to such low-scoring games.

With the season about to begin, the defending champs have a huge target on their backs. While trying to get another championship. The Vikings and the state can’t wait to see what this year’s team has to offer. Leaving us all with the question, can the Vikings repeat?