The wait is finally over. For the seniors on the Eaton Reds Boys Basketball team, It’s the first time they’ve ever experienced a win over rival, University High School, propelling them back into a three-game win streak with an overall record of 10-4, and in league, the Reds sit just behind Ressurection Christian and Sterling in Patriot league standings.
Senior, Mitch Haythorn said, “It’s a great feeling beating UH. It was the first time I’ve ever beat them in high school basketball, I’m extremely proud of the team and it was an essential win for us.” 57-43 was the score that showed after the buzzer rang, and it was a win the Reds needed.
The victory over University cemented the new era that head coach Tanner Ervin has worked tirelessly to create following Grable’s retirement. Ervin said, “Fortunately for me, Coach Grable ran a great program for years and years prior to me taking over, so for me it was about continuing that. I love this community and I love these players. I am a firm believer that culture can not be built if the players don’t play for one another. Every player on this team cheers for their teammates and are proud of the accomplishments they have. When you have student-athletes like that, your culture will be strong.” That culture’s foundation was built from the beginning of the year, and now the most important thing for the Reds is to continue to get better every day.
For Ervin, the game against University was a familiar and unfamiliar opponent. That familiarity showed itself in University’s head coach, Bobby Ervin, the father of Tanner. The unfamiliarity presented itself as well. It was the first time Ervin was on the other side, coaching against his father. Ervin has been side-by-side with his father for years, coaching as an assistant, but now Ervin switched sides, Ervin said, “It was really special. That is someone who I have looked up to my whole life. We have always been on the same team so coaching against him was special. I feel super fortunate to have that memory with him. I am always his number one fan so beating him was not a great feeling, but seeing my players happy and celebrating in the locker room after the game was a moment I will remember for a long time.”
The pressure the Reds laid down was a foreign experience for University, since, in the last four years and beyond, University has dominated on the hardwood against the Reds. This time, inside the Reds’ gym, University was at a loss for answers. The man defense from the Reds suffocated University into mistakes. With a dominant performance on the court, the Reds coasted into a vital win. Peyton Walker (24) said, “[The win against University] motivates us by knowing we can compete with anyone as long as we have our minds towards it, and it helps our confidence.” That confidence has shown on more than one occasion, and Walker hopes it can continue. “The goal is to make it as far as we can in the tourney, and we would like to make it farther than last season when we made it to the Elite Eight,” said Walker.
A win is celebrated always for the Reds, but a rivalry win makes it even sweeter. Ervin said, “It is always nice to win rivalry games throughout the season. I thought our student section was a huge part of that win. They brought us a lot of energy and really made it a tough atmosphere for University. I always tell the players that it is important to play our best basketball down the stretch and I felt that win pointed us in the right direction.”
The methodical Reds team has drummed away all season at the same beat, and they hope to continue the rhythm into the postseason. If the Reds drum continues to beat in the same rhythm for the rest of the season, the opportunities are endless for this dynamic Reds basketball team.
