Timothy Edwards Middle School’s boys basketball team competed in the Capital Regional Athletic League (CRAL) championship game against Illing Middle School on Friday the 21st at 3:15pm, where they took home the victory.
The TEMS basketball team has fought tooth and nail to make it to the CRAL championships this year. The last time the boys made it to the championships was 2019, but they unfortunately lost. This group of athletes pulled out a win for the first time since 2013.
“This win was very important because TEMS basketball has not won this championship in a while,” 8th grader Gavin Williams said. “This is a breakthrough for our sports and this could lead to TEMS sports exceeding.”
It wasn’t just the team excited for this victory, though.
“As a mom, it meant so much to know that my son and daughters last time playing and cheering on that court would be such a memorable moment,” Mom and cheer coach Jaqueline Edwards told The Prowl. “It was an unforgettable experience that truly filled my heart.”
This win over Illing was a great success for the team. The boys worked hard all season and put in their all at every game. All the time, effort and strength put into the team turned out to be well worth it.
“We are a good team and have good chemistry and good team strength,” 8th grader, Torin Edwards said.
The team consisted of 15 total players, with 11 of them being 8th graders. These 8th graders put in the hard work and had a strong and determined season with a record of 15-0.
Their season began in December, showing how much the team grew together in only three months. They helped each other out when needed, and showed good sportsmanship to each other.
“The team had the mindset that it didn’t matter who scored, as long as we scored, which led to very unselfish play and a lot of sharing the ball,” TEMS boys basketball coach Brenden McClay said.
The boys were placed into difficult situations during games but always kept fighting. When the team was in need, someone would always step up. In different situations, they were always helping each other.
Throughout the entire championship game, the crowd was booming with excitement. The players carried this energy as they fought for victory through great plays.
“The stands were packed with friends and families, leaving not a single empty seat,” Jacqueline Edwards said.
From the beginning of the game, TEMS was in the lead. They played a great game and kept Illing on their feet. The score became close during parts of the game, though ultimately finished with a score of 64-43.
This group of incoming freshmen has set the bar high for themselves.
“It’s never easy as a freshman coming in to play in high school.” McClay said. “They will be very successful as they grow into varsity players and hopefully they continue to take on the challenge of making South Windsor basketball a force to be reckoned with in the next few years.”
The incoming freshmen have made a huge impact and change on South Windsor basketball and the team is excited to bring that energy to the court next year as official Bobcats.
