The boys basketball team will play its first home game of the season against Allen on Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Allen is ranked No. 8 in the statewide 6A rankings. Last season, Hebron knocked Allen out of district playoffs as they went on to win Area. Head coach Eric Reil said he expects a bit of a chip on Allen’s shoulder coming into the game, boosting the game’s intensity.
“We’re really excited,” Reil said. “We’re always excited to play at home and have a really tough game at hand against a very good team.”
The team is excited to play in front of a home crowd after an eight-game long wait.
“We’re really excited,” forward Graham Moore said. “It’s been the longest we’ve gone without a home game, so we are definitely ready to get in front of a home crowd. We’ve played in front of a lot of tough away crowds, so it’s going to be good to have fans.”
With the game being the home opener, players such as Moore expressed how important fan presence is. Guard J’lyn Jenkins said he is looking forward to fans being able to watch this year’s team
“We want to show what we can do [at our] home opener, so we have to show out for Hebron,” Jenkins said. “[I want to] show how we play basketball and get a win.”
Reil said that with Allen being a formidable opponent, it has upped the team’s intensity. Reil also talked about the team’s tough schedule so far and how it is important to face those challenges.
“Our schedule is super tough for a reason: to get ourselves ready for districts,” Reil said. “No one talks about the end of the year [and] what you do in November. [The game] can prove to our kids that we can compete with anybody — that alone is more important.”
Allen has started the season 5-3 and has a tall lineup with three players being 6 ‘7 or above, compared to Hebron whose tallest player Moore stands 6’ 6, Hebron lost big man Isaiah Dixon who graduated last year.
“We play a specific type [of game] where we will always be energetic and always fast paced,” Reil said. “Even if the outcome may not be what you want all the time, it’s always gonna be a fun game to watch.”
