The Lockport Boys Basketball team is coming off one of their most impressive seasons in recent memory. They finished with a 12-4 record, and were one win away from qualifying for the conference championship. 

The season was far from normal, with restrictions being put in place due to COVID-19. Head Coach Brett Hespell said that the changes were not easy to deal with. “Playing in masks was somewhat of a challenge and definitely something that the guys and the coaches had to get used to.” Another big change was the lack of a postseason, which some of the players also found disappointing.

There were many great moments the team experienced during the season. One of the most memorable was a game against Homewood-Flossmoor, in which the Porters lost in four overtimes by one point. “H-F is one of the top 25 teams in Illinois,” Coach Hespell said. “It was a truly epic game.” Other highlights include a combined 4-0 record against rivals Lincoln-Way East and Sandburg, and a big victory over conference powerhouse Bolingbrook. 

As far as individual players that shined, senior Matas Deksnys had an incredible season. He tied the program record for the most three-pointers made in one game and received special mention honors for the All-State team by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. Other standout players include senior Angelo Vassilakis, who was named All-Conference and All-Area, and juniors Anthony Munson and Ethan Gallagher, who were named All-Conference honorable mentions.

Overall, Coach Hespell called the season a success. The team won 10 of their final 12 games, and although the season didn’t feel very normal, the important thing was that a season was able to be played at all. Finally, looking to the future, Coach Hespell sees this season as a huge building block to get the team to where he wants them to be. “I’d say our goal was to re-establish this program as one of the top programs in the southwest suburbs, and I think we took a big step forward in doing that this season.”