Lincoln-Way Central boys basketball head coach Brian Flaherty expressed optimism about the team’s prospects this season, citing a competitive spirit among the players that he finds promising.
According to Flaherty, he began the season uncertain about how the team would cope with the loss of key players in terms of size and backcourt production. However, he noted that practices have demonstrated the team’s willingness to compete. “The biggest thing I noticed is that these guys really like to compete,” Flaherty said. “They’re not going to back down from anybody.”
Flaherty anticipates gaining further insights into areas needing improvement once the Knights engage in live games. He identified ball-handling against aggressive defenses as an early focus area. “If we can handle the ball, we’ll be able to win,” he said. “I don’t see scoring being as much of an issue this year, and I think we’ll defend.”
He also acknowledged the role of senior players in setting a positive tone during workouts and practices. Flaherty attributes strong leadership to allowing the Knights to advance without requiring coaches to invest excessive time in teaching effort or accountability. “You have to select a group of high-character kids,” he said. “The culture has really been player-led since I’ve gotten here, and that’s what allows us to get prepared the right way.”
