Team hopes to utilize  seniors’ talent to advance to State competition

Senior Kashif Hayes hit the milestone 1,000 point mark in a game against Totino-Grace Jan. 29, but his goals for his last varsity season did not stop there.
“I want to go to State so badly,” Hayes said. “It’s the only thing I want, my one mission.”
Senior Marshaun Roundtree said he thinks Hayes’ goal is quite attainable as he considers the team the best Park has seen in years.
“The only other team Park has had that was really good won State, and that was more than 50 years ago,” Roundtree said.
However, athletic director Andy Ewald said though he thinks the team has the potential, it will have to prove itself in the postseason.
“Record-wise and talent-wise right now they’re as good as any team that’s been around since I’ve been here, but we’ll have to wait and see how they do in section display. That will be the deciding factor,” he said.
The team nears the end of its regular season play with a record of 19-4 and a standing of second place in the North Suburban Conference as of press time Feb. 25.
The boys play against Benilde-St. Margaret’s next in their last conference game before sections at 7:15 p.m. March 1 at home. The boys last faced Benilde Feb. 5 and beat them 71-60.
Head coach Dave Breitenbucher said he attributes the team’s strengths to the dedication the 11 returning seniors bring to the sport.
“They’re the closest group that I’ve had in my coaching career,” Breitenbucher said. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone concerned about what they’re doing individually. They’re all about the team.”
One of the seniors, Sam Brimacomb,  said he thinks the seniors’ chemistry also benefits the team. This is because most of them have been playing together within the Park system for up to 10 years.
“We’ve all played together for many years, some since third or fourth grade,” Brimacomb said. “On the court, we know where our teammates are going to be a step before the play happens, and off the court we have great relationships.”
Hayes said he thinks the players’ similar ages will be a significant factor in during sections, as most other teams have younger players.
“It’s huge because a lot of teams we play are inexperienced and have a lot of younger guys,” he said. “It gives us an advantage.”
Despite the team’s second place in the conference, Breitenbucher said he thinks the boys will need to make some adjustments to their game play in order to succeed in sections.
“We are in the toughest section in the state,” Breitenbucher said. “If we can improve every day, we can get on through the section. We have to get more physical, so we have to work on rebounding, boxing out and bursting through screens in practices.”
The boys compete in Section 6AAAA, which includes teams like Hopkins High School, which placed first in the AAAA State competitions 2009-2012 and placed third last year.
Nonetheless, Hayes said he thinks the team has the ability to do well in the postseason.
“We have a great shot, but it’s going to be hard. We just have to be sharp on the court,” Hayes said.