Patriots looking for a big run in 2016

WEST ISHPEMING — The new year always brings with it hopes of achieving better things. Let’s talk about the goals of the Westwood boys basketball team.

The Patriots currently sit at 2–2, with wins over West Iron County and L’Anse, and losses to Kingsford and Ishpeming. Boasting one of the most complete teams in the Mid–Peninsula Conference, coach Chad Hewitt says this year’s team has a chance to make a deep run in the playoffs.

“Ryan Stanaway has been playing great as a post player. Connor Hanlon is a guy that can play the three or the four. You can put him out on the wing or you can play him with his back to the basket. And Luke Gray is a great slasher. Right now, he’s the guy who brings the ball up the floor every night and he’s expending a lot of energy doing that. We’re hopefully going to move to a point where he doesn’t have to bring the ball up the court all the time and expend all that energy,” Hewitt said.

Westwood is coming off a tough loss to the Hematites last night but the seniors are not fazed as the team’s confidence is still very high.

“We’re pretty confident in going far this season. We just got to keep working hard every day. We know that we’re capable of competing with any team in the conference, maybe even the U.P. and we just got to prove it every time we go out on the court,” Gray said.

“As long as we’re willing to put in the effort, I think we can make it as far as states even. But I think it’s all effort. I think everyone on the team has confidence, it’s just a matter of executing,” said Hanlon.

“You don’t have to lead us necessarily in points or rebounds. But just doing the little things right and defending and playing 32 minutes and playing hard. And I thought that I got that out of those guys and that’s all I can ask for when we come out on the court every night,” Hewitt said.

The Patriots will be back on the court next Tuesday as they travel to Gwinn to take on the Modeltowners.