The Minooka varsity boys breezed past Yorkville on Dec. 6, winning 53-39. Junior Zane Caves led the group with a new school record of 16 rebounds. 

Coach Brett Hespell has led this team to a 4-2 record as of Dec. 9.

“Our defense was outstanding. We also won the rebounding battle pretty soundly 36-21.  In fact, we had a 50% offensive rebounding rate, which means that of all of our missed shots, we got half of them back with offensive rebounds, which is a really high number,” Hespell said. “Zane Caves is the clear answer here.  He set his second school record of the season with 16 rebounds in the game.  That breaks the previous school record for rebounds in a game (he broke the record for steals in a game earlier in the year).”

Caves had one magnificent Friday night dropping 21 points and grabbing 16 boards. Caves shot 56.3% from the field and 67% from 3. 

“I think the team improved from the (WJOL) tournament a lot I think we are playing more together than we were at the start and now we have many players in scoring column,” Caves said. “Yorkville played tough against us I think they did a lot of things well, but we had a great game shut them out on defense and they couldn’t keep up with us on offense.”

“We will have a lot to look forward to. We have a couple tournaments coming up and I think just winning will be big for this team and change the narrative that has been put on Minooka basketball over the years,” Caves said.

Hespell is excited for the future.

“We are clearly heading in the right direction.  Last season, we didn’t register our fourth win until January 5th, and the season before that our program only had 4 wins total in the whole season.  So, compared to the last two seasons, we have taken clear steps forward” Hespell said. 

Brady Hairald had a great night as well grabbing 5 boards and 12 points shooting 71.4% from the field (5/7).

“I think we learned how to play with each other because most of us haven’t played together before,” Hairald said. “We look forward to upsetting teams that think they are going to beat us and hopefully bringing home a regional championship.”