Growing from people with individual skills to a team
The men’s basketball team is one of few extramural teams on Laurier Brantford’s campus.
“You can connect with other people, it’s nice being able to play basketball. It is fun because, it’s something that we can all connect to with all the people that are on the team,” Reuben Pierre, a second-year psychology student and a first-year player, said.
The team has come together to work and improve all season; from the start of their season in November to hosting the team’s last tournament here in Brantford this past March.
“I think we had a good season. There were some ups and downs, but this year we all like play better as a team,” Jalen Mundy, second-year criminology student and second-year player, said.
“We improved as a team this year. It’s more like a team you could say. Rather than just a bunch of individual talents coming together,” May Moneey, third-year criminology student and a third-year player, said.
There is time for players to bond, both on and off the court. Once the court is in game-time. Teamwork and camaraderie. Scoring points and getting the win. Learning how to support one another through the losses and the wins. Bonding on the bus rides to the tournaments, talking about favourite professional teams or discussing plays from the games previously played. Both before and after, the game’s teamwork is still at play just in a different way.
“We have conversations, arguing about different stuff or have debates about NBA teams. It’s been like lots of good vibes,” Pierre said.
Each experience playing sports is different depending on the sport and the player. Some started as children influenced by their parents or favourite players. Others played with friends and then started taking the sport more seriously and joined a more competitive team.
“I grew up watching basketball with my mom. My mom got me into it at a very young age. Kobe Bryant made me fall in love with the game,” said Mundy.
Growing and learning as players and as students. When playing for a school, it is important to remember that you shouldn’t put “the sports over the academic, so you have to make sure you’re doing well in school,” Moneey said. Find a balance that works to keep tasks in order. Then a player can succeed as both a student and an athlete.
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