Illinois during winter is known for its bitter cold weather and heavy amounts of snow. With little to nothing to do during this time, many students clamor to watch the Lockport Porters Basketball team. The 2017-2018 season for the Porters Varsity team was not always the most successful, but it offered plenty of excitement and hope for better seasons to come.

Like every season there are memorable moments. These moments came in the form of big upsets and team bonding. Varsity Head Coach Brett Hespell commented on two moments in particular when asked about it. Coach Hespell described the upset win over Bolingbrook, the 8th ranked team in State. The Porters shot a red hot 62% from the field and won the game 70-60.  Coach Hespell also mentioned the team’s overnight trip to compete against Rock Island. They lost a tight game, but Rock Island is more than a formidable opponent. The team bonding, along with the memories made, more than justified the trip.

The composition of this year’s varsity basketball team was unusual in the fact that it was not senior dominated. The team had only four seniors: Deondre Cooper, Jack Michalowski, Zach Pytlewski, and Kevin Horan, but they were vital on and off the court. The team’s juniors provide much optimism for the upcoming season based off their stellar performances this season. The team’s leading scorer, junior Matthew Hatzopoulos, averaged 14 points per game and was named a SWSC Blue Honorable Mention All-Conference. Hatzopoulos also shot 48.9% from three point range, which is an efficient percentage. Jacob Karli, another junior, was second in scoring on the team and was named Southwest Suburban Blue All-Conference Team.

With a strong, deep core of returning players, it seems that the Lockport Boys Basketball team is poised for a successful season.