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The Journey Back to the Title Game

MARIANNA- The Chipola Indians have been waiting all off-season for this time to finally come around, no not Halloween, but a chance to start their journey back to the NJCAA national title game.

To get to that point, it takes a lot of preparation and hard work.

“We demand a lot out of you, a lot of perfection, a lot of execution a lot of togetherness, a lot of sacrifice and that’s what this program is based on,” said Chipola Head Coach Greg Heiar.

Another thing this Chipola men’s basketball program is based on, is winning.

Last season, the Indians made it all the way to junior college championship game in
Hutchinson, Kansas, before falling to Midland 94-75, but there were plenty of things to learn from that experience.

“More than anything, what you take from last season into this season is how much it motivates you to want to get back there.  I just feel like I’m a better coach because I got beat in the national championship game,” said Heiar.

The team feels like it has the ability to get right back where it was last season.

“I think we are more athletic than last year. We’ve just got to come together as a team, work hard and take each game as one and we can get there. If we get back to the championship game, we’re going to win it,” said sophomore guard Mario Little.

“We’re just going to take it one day at a time. There are no big heads over here, that’s going to destroy the team. We’re just one big unit and we’re ready to win a championship,” said freshman forward Gary Flowers.

After losing a lot of players from last years squad to Division-I teams, this year’s group must gel together quick.

“Togetherness and chemistry comes with practice, adversity and toughness,” Heiar said.

“It’s a process, week by week. We gel together on and off the court. It’s like a brotherhood here. We’re very close,” said Little.

“I tell them, you have to believe in yourself first, believe in your teammates second and believe in our system and the coaches third. If we can get them to that point, we’re going to be pretty successful,” Heiar said.

That journey towards success starts at game one, and ends with that national championship trophy in hand.

“We’re trying to get there no doubt, no doubt about it. We got there; we can’t take anything shorter than getting back to the championship game and then nothing shorter than winning the championship game. We’re trying to get it all this year,” Flowers said.

Posted by on 10/31 at 09:14 PM
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