As the season pushes toward tournament time, varsity boys basketball team is working hard to get through the season
Head Coach Wernke gave some details on how things are going this season
One of Roncalli’s biggest strengths this year has been senior leadership. With Joe Taylor, Luke Baker, Conner Kesler, and Luke Feldman all starting, the team benefits from experience on the floor every night. Their leadership is complemented by Braden Collins, who brings energy, spirit, and a team-first mindset that helps keep the locker room connected.
Like any team, Roncalli has faced its share of challenges.
“The greatest weakness in our losses was that we allowed our bad shooting nights to affect our effort on the defensive end and rebounding,” Wernke said.
Looking ahead, the Royals know there are no easy games left on the schedule. Rather than seeing that as a negative, the team views it as preparation.
Every game presents a challenge, but those challenges are exactly what will prepare Roncalli for postseason basketball. Night after night, they’re being pushed to compete at a higher level. Some of the team’s best performances this season have come against strong opponents. Wins at Decatur Central and Jeffersonville stand out, along with the last three victories at New Pal and wins against Center Grove and Greenwood.
Decatur Central, one of the best teams Roncalli has faced, and Jeffersonville, the defending state champions, provided a true measuring stick. In several of those key wins, the Royals didn’t always shine offensively but they found ways to win.
Inside the locker room, there’s a shared mindset: get better every day. The team isn’t one to celebrate for long. In fact, celebrations have been few. They look toward improvement, toward March, and toward reaching their full potential.
That hunger to improve has defined the season.
When asked about goals, Coach Wernke said,
“We try not to talk about winning and losing, but we wanna have our team playing to their full potential in tournament time. And if we can execute on offense and defense, I believe we will be winning championships.”
If the team can execute on both ends of the floor offensively and defensively they believe championships are within reach. And with leadership, resilience, and a relentless work ethic, this team is determined to find out just how far it can go.
