CHURUBUSCO – To say 2021-22 was a rebuilding year for the Churubusco High School boys basketball team in 2021-22 would be quite an understatement.
The Eagles went from 21-5, a Class 2A Sectional 35 championship and trip to the regional finals to 3-20 a year ago. Churubusco fell in the first round of the sectional, 71-55 to a Central Noble squad led by Wisconsin recruit Connor Essegian that was Class 2A state runners-up.
They also got a new coach, as Shannon Beard replaced Chris Paul. As Beard prepares for his second season coaching the Busco boys, he likes what he sees. The Eagles were slated to start practice on Monday, Nov. 7.
Andrew Rapp is settling into his role as the Eagles’ only senior.
“There’s going to be a big leadership role to fill, but I’m excited to do that,” Rapp said. “We’re looking forward to a really good year It’s going to be fun.”
As a senior, Rapp knows he has to set the tone, and as it’s his final year in an Eagle uniform, he knows it’s go-time.
“We have a lot of younger guys coming up, and they’re going to rely on us older players,” Rapp said. “We’re going to go hard.”
Guard Caden Ummel, meanwhile, just got into a few games at the end of last year as a sophomore and is hungry for more. He expects to be the Eagles’ point guard this season.
“I’ll be the guy bringing the ball up the floor,” Ummel said. "I want to score, but I want to get everyone involved.”
Coming off a 3-20 record, Beard and his players know there’s much room for improvement. Ummel said that’s going to start with defense.
“We’ve got some nice traps we’re working on, and hopefully that will help us get turnovers, points in transition and win some games,” Ummel said.
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