The Lincoln Way West Boys Basketball team is hoping to carry the momentum from a strong finish last season into the 2024-2025 campaign.
The Warriors, who ended the previous season as conference co-champions with a 16-16 overall record, are aiming to improve under the leadership of Head Coach Tanner Mitchell and Assistant Coach Billy Gardner.
“We really started to get rolling at the end of the season last year. We won five straight conference games, including two key victories to become co-conference champs,” Mitchell said. “We lost a lot of talent to graduation, but we’re excited about the returning players. We have two all-conference seniors coming back, and we really like the potential of our junior group.”
The two all-conference returnees are forward Wyatt Carlson and combo guard Max Gabriel. Both players were standouts last season, despite various challenges. Carlson, an all-conference selection as a junior, is eager to build on his performance this year, while Gabriel earned the same honor despite battling through multiple injuries.
Carlson is ready to take on a larger role in his senior year.
“I know this year will be different,” Carlson said. “Last year, with players like Parisa and Eli around, the defense didn’t focus on me as much. Now, defenses will be more focused on me and Max, and we have to be ready for that.”
The senior forward said the key to success will be playing team-oriented basketball.
“We’ll need to focus on playmaking,” Carlson explained. “If defenses key in on us, we can look for guys like John or Drake on the perimeter. It’s all about taking advantage of matchups.”
Gabriel, who will play a major role in both the offense and defense, is focused on leadership and getting his teammates involved.
“It’s all about getting everyone involved and playing tough defense,” Gabriel said. “As a senior, I know what I need to do—lead by example, stay aggressive, and find ways to win. I won’t try to force shots; I’ll let the game come to me. My favorite thing is to get to the paint, either finishing, or finding an open teammate if the defense collapses on me.”
With graduation taking a toll on last year’s roster, the Warriors will rely heavily on their returning seniors and juniors, and Mitchell sees mental toughness as a critical factor for success this season.
“Mental toughness is huge,” Mitchell said. “It’s one thing to hit shots in practice with no pressure, but when the lights come on in a packed gym, and you’re facing intense defense, that’s when mental toughness matters. With a younger group, that’s something we worry about—how they will handle the pressure when the game is on the line.”
Assistant Coach Gardner echoed his thoughts.
“It’s easy to look good in practice, but when you’re playing in front of a crowd with everything on the line, it’s a different story,” Gardner said. “We stress mental toughness every day in practice, putting our guys in tough situations to get them ready for those moments.”
With two all-conference players returning and a roster full of eager talent, the Warriors are poised to build on last season’s success and make a strong run in 2024. While the season may present new challenges, Lincoln Way West is ready to face them head-on, relying on their leadership, preparation, and mental toughness to push toward another successful campaign.