Tough Loss

The boys basketball team got off to a great start leading the Arlington Golden Knights with a score of 14-6 after the first quarter.  In the end, Arlington's relentless pressure broke down the Eagles as they fell to 1-1 on the season with a 46-60 loss.

Joel Smith led the Eagles in scoring with 16 followed by 9 points for both Tyler Mink and Anthony Warrum.

The Eagles are at Home this Tuesday against Columbus East.

Great Start!!!

If you were not there to witness the first boys basketball game of the year, you missed out!  Not only did the boys play a great game, there was great fellowship before the game with the HCS students joining the basketball team for prayer in the Auxilary gym and after the game with the students and teams from both schools on center court!  Joel Smith did a great job leading prayer with both schools immediatlely following the contest that Heritage won 72-56.

Kristin Morris started the night out right by performing the Star Spangled Banner.  Prior to her singing, Senior Forward Grant Finlan led us in prayer.  Both made us all proud to be at Heritage!

The boys did a great job playing team basketball.  They had 14 assists on the 24 shots made, led by point guard Anthony Warrum who had 6 assists with ZERO turnovers!  The team was led in scoring by Joel Smith with 26 points followed by DJ Sternasty with 19.  DJ connected on 5 of his 6 three point attempts for the game.

 A special thank you to the student section that was unbelievable!!!  Be sure to join us for our upcoming stretch of home games.  Go Eagles!

Scrimmage

I am glad we were able to scrimmage before our first game.  It was a great opportunity to put to test what we have been working on in practice.  We had great effort and the players did a good job sticking to the game plan.  There is no doubt it exposed a few things we need to work on!

We look forward to our first game Monday night versus Rushville at Heritage.

Conditioning Has Begun!!!

As we complete our first week of conditioning, I do want to encourage all the players to keep working as hard as possible.  Our conditioning program is very unique and designed to get the players in to basketball shape as quickly as possible.  We are very pleased with how the first week has gone and we look forward to building on this foundation next week.

Our first game is just over three weeks away.  There is much to be done, but the players are up for the challenge of learning a new system and keeping the focus on Christ!

We look forward to seeing you all at our first game on November 21 at Heritage!

Basketball Update- Purdue/Indy Shootout

Competing for Christ.  That has been my goal for the program from the first day I have had the opportunity to work with the players and we have had a great week doing just that.  When we play a high emotion sport like basketball, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the game and have a few brief, weak moments in our attitudes.  But we WILL make them fewer.

I can not be more pleased with the boys effort, attitude, and willingness to learn a new system.  It did not take them long to buy in to a different philosophy on offense and defense.  Ball movement has been better, they are helping each other on defense, they are playing unselfish, and they are winning!

Competing against 4A schools at Anderson and going 4-0 to win the Purdue Shootout is a great way to help us build a new tradition at Heritage Christian.  To God be the glory.

This weekend's Indy Shootout will provide some more competitive games to continue to build on the basketball fundamentals we have been working on.  For the latest, updated information regarding game times and locations, visit the tournament's website.  http://www.indianaboysbasketball.com/ They should have the Sunday times posted after all Saturday games have been completed.    Please be at the appropriate gym 30 minutes before the listed game time.

Thanks for letting us work with your sons and we will continue to do our best to challenge them at every practice and every game, both athletically and spiritually.

Update from Coach Bloom

First of all, I would like to thank those parents that have sent an encouraging note to welcome my family and me to Heritage Christian.  The search committee was challenged with the task of filling a coaching position that will fulfill the mission statement of the schools athletic program.  I thank Mr. Freeman and the committee and I look forward to using the game of basketball to disciple your sons in their walk with Christ.

Secondly, I would like to thank Coach Ingle and his dedication he has to the school and the players.  He has been a great help in the transition in to the summer program that was already in place.  The Bible studies he has led on the book of James have been a great learning and growing process for all who have attended.

For the players that have been able to make it to practice, we have been able to refocus the practices and spend some needed time on both offensive and defensive fundamentals.  You should know that while I want the boys to compete as hard as they can, we will use the upcoming games as a learning experience.  I will be learning each of their strengths and weaknesses, and the players will be learning a new system of basketball.  I hope you will enjoy the process as much as I will.

Next week will be a busy week of basketball that will be very beneficial for the future of our program.  We have the Anderson University games on Monday, the Purdue Shootout on Wednesday, and the Indy Shootout at Carmel over the weekend.  The Purdue Shootout will be limited to 10 players max and we will inform the team of the players that will be going to West Lafayette after the AU games on Monday.

On Monday at Anderson, all players will be playing at 6:30.  Court 1 players will be Joel Smith, Anthony Warrum, Tyler Mink, Chris Doyle, Derek Foresman, Reid Finlan, Grant Finlan, DJ Sternasty and Matt Fitzpatrick.  Immediately following the 6:30 game, these same players will play on court 3.

Playing at 6:30 on Court 3 and 8:30 on court 1 will be John Bryant, Luke Pudeto, Spencer Preston, Eric Beadle, Adam Meadows, Anders Rotto, Brandon Strode, Braden Kellams.

If your son needs a ride to the games or if they will not be able to make it, please email me back.

My prayer for this program is very simple.  I want to teach Christian Competitors the game of basketball along with the life skills the game parallels.  I truly believe the wins will come as a byproduct of keeping our priorities focused on why and for Whom we compete.  I thank you all for your prayers and support as we begin the journey together!

Coach Bloom

Devotional Update James 2

Coach Williams led our guys through James 2 this week in devotional time. The group spoke about showing favortisim in our choices, faith without works being dead and the call on us as believers to show mercy and not put ourselves in the place of passing judgement. At the end, I had a challenge for our players and I hope you will help us to encourage them to complete this challenge. At their ages, many of them are used to being taught or as we called it, being poured into. We challenged them to take what is being poured into them and find a relationship with a family member, friend or someone in their life in which they have not poured into it and start pouring.

James has many action commands in the teaching and all of them focus on matching our faith with our actions and daily lives. As I have said to them, its not enough to just be comfortable in their faith. They need to continue to pour out into the community and where God is leading them. We will ask them in a 1 on 1 setting through this month who or what relationship they have chosen to work on and then how are they working on it. Please keep them all in your prayers and encourage them as we ask them to step up and pour out in love for Him!