As football season wraps up, the crowds’ eyes are turning away from the field and toward the court. 

Coming off of a gut-wrenching overtime loss in the Sweet-Sixteen, the Homewood boys’ basketball team aims to bring a new atmosphere to the gym.

Saying goodbye to the class of 2022 seniors, specifically their height and size, forced this year’s players to readjust. However, despite the loss, head coach Tim Shepler believes his squad can fill the shoes left behind.

“It’s a different type of team this year; it is a deeper team, and we feel like we can put a lot of different people out on the court,” Shepler said. 

Coach Shepler has been coaching Homewood boys’ basketball for 26 years now, leading the program to the area championships, multiple Final Four appearances, and a state championship title in 2016. 

The team has no shortage of veteran leadership; seniors Canon Armstead, Clay Burdeshaw, Carson Cole, Kiran McCool, and Carter Vail are ready to pick up where they left off last year.

This season, they have set new goals for themselves that are larger than just success on the court.

“We want to leave our legacy and we want to create our own path and destiny,” Vail said.

With this legacy in mind, the team is working around the clock to be the best they can be. They don’t want this year to repeat the events of last season; they want to represent something new for Homewood basketball.

The team is calling this season their “revenge tour” in hopes of returning to the court ready to face any challenges coming their way. 

The more specific focus on the court this year will be three-point shooting. With minimal height, getting close to the net won’t be as easy as the team has found it in the past. It will be a team effort to make as many deep shots as possible.

“We are going to play hard, smart, and as a team,” Shepler said, adding that the team has concentrated on building a deeper relationship with each other. He believes this chemistry will be the most effective skill in the court, and will make relationships deeper than just the game of basketball.

“Everyone on the team motivates me. It’s more of a family atmosphere this year,” senior Canon Armstead remarked. 

Homewood basketball is ready to turn over a new leaf. Their first game is Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7:00 p.m. against Chelsea.

Check out the Girls’ Varsity Preview here: https://thehomewoodtricorne.com/1588/sports/were-ready-senior-less-patriots-set-to-surprise/.