Tuesday night’s Council Rock North/Neshaminy boys’ basketball game is an SOL Featured Game, sponsored by the CR North Booster Club. Check back for photos and a game story.
By Mary Jane Souder
Josh Josephs couldn’t decide whether or not he should try out for the basketball team this year.
“I was going back and forth,” the Council Rock North senior said. “In the preseason, I would come to some workouts, and I was like ‘Should I give it a shot? Maybe I shouldn’t.’ Then something told me I should give it a shot.
“Even during tryouts, I kept questioning myself, but all the players comforting each other and the coach talking to us made me want to do it.”
It’s a decision Josephs has never regretted.
“This was my highlight of high school – just playing on the team,” he said. “This is what I’m going to remember most looking back at high school.”
That’s quite a statement from the first-year player, but Josephs isn’t alone. Teammate Nate Kardos didn’t make the team as a junior but opted to come back out a senior. He is equally enthusiastic about being part of the squad.
“I just wanted to try out for the team because I like playing basketball so much and because of the culture the team has and what it stands for and all the lessons I’ve learned playing for coach Wright and for Council Rock North,” Kardos said. “I just like being around these guys and how much fun we have and how much fun it is to play basketball with them again.”
Josephs and Kardos will join fellow seniors Kyle McCloskey, Brandon Knotts and Ryan Baker in the starting lineup when the Indians take the court for Tuesday’s Senior Night game against Neshaminy.
“They’re all unique in their personalities,” coach Derek Wright said. “They’ve all had to deal with adversity in some way and have handled it really well.
“They all come from good supportive households that have taught some good lessons to them, and they’re all really good teammates.”
Each senior has his own story to tell. While Josephs and Kardos are newcomers, the remaining three have been with the program since the outset.
“Ryan Baker didn’t play much jayvee as a sophomore and as a junior had to play jayvee, but he continued to work on his game,” Wright said. “We expected Kyle McCloskey to be a big contributor in the program, and he’s done that, but last year he had to deal with a back injury for the second half of the year.
“He wasn’t really himself and couldn’t play as much as we normally would have played him. He rehabbed himself well in the offseason and has gotten a lot stronger, so his back would hold up, and he has had a really good year.
“Brandon Knotts missed all of his junior year and had to fight through that injury and had a great attitude through it all. He’s just such a warrior, and I’m glad he’s been able to enjoy the year healthy.”
Wright went on to credit Baker, Knotts and McCloskey for their contributions to the program.
“They have really meant a lot to the success we’ve had over the years,” the Indians’ coach said. “It’s really cool to see their maturity and their development as players since the time they were freshmen.
“They each had their own different paths, but they’re all great kids and really represent our program well. They’re all good friends, and they take a lot of pride in the legacy they’re going to leave as seniors.”
The Indians are 9-3 with a stronghold on second place in the SOL National Conference standings behind Abington, but the culture of this program, according to Kardos, is about a whole lot more than winning basketball games.
“I think it’s how we play together and how the chemistry is with the team,” he said. “Coach Wright always uses the term attitude.
“There’s a bigger purpose that you play for other than just the win. Our program actually stands for something and has meaning behind it. You’re stepping on the floor with your teammates every day and every day during practice going hard. You’re promoting a different style of basketball, a different culture and what the entire program stands for.”
“It all comes back to coach and how he teaches us,” Joseph added. “He always teaches us that even if you win a game, it doesn’t mean you’ve necessarily won, and just because you lose doesn’t mean you lost. It’s more than just a game and just practices. It’s becoming better as a person and a player.”
Whether they are on the court or on the bench, everyone is part of this year’s Indian squad.
“It’s just a great opportunity to come in and practice every day,” Josephs said. “When you do something you love, it doesn’t seem like you’re working.
“We’re all such good friends, and we look forward to coming to practice every day and playing games together and cheering for each other.”
“We have a great time every day in practice,” Kardos added. “We have a great time every time we hang out off the court.
“The bench is really enthusiastic. We’ve had a great time the whole year even though we haven’t gotten in because we’re not promoting ourselves, we’re playing for the program. We’re just doing everything together to get the win. No on has an ego. Everyone just plays together.”
Wright credited Kardos and Joseph for the contributions they bring to the team in supporting roles.
“Nate and Josh are kids that really persevered,” the Indians’ coach said. “They’ve been cut from teams throughout the years. They kept coming to open gyms, kept coming to workouts.
“By coming back every year to try out, it really shows they want to be part of the program in any role possible, so we thought that as seniors we had some spots available that they really would fit into a role of being grateful for being part of the team and really helping us in practice every day and being enthused on the bench during games.
“It’s a real testament to them and their families – they have a really good attitude about dealing with a little adversity and seeing it through and making the team as seniors. Tuesday will be a really special night for them.”
Tuesday’s Senior Night game will begin at 7:15 p.m., following the girls’ varsity game at 5:45 p.m.
Just the facts:
This year’s record: Council Rock North 9-3 SOL (15-5 overall); Neshaminy 0-12 SOL (0-18 overall)
Last year’s record: Council Rock North 21-7 (11-3 SOL National Conference champions); Neshaminy 3-18 (3-11 SOL)
Last meeting: Jan. 11, 2013 – Council Rock North 56, Neshaminy 45 (CR North: Kyle McCloskey – 17 points, Rip Engel – 13 points, Chris Rowland – 8 points; Brandon Knotts – 7 points; Neshaminy – Jaylen Picket – 16 points, Marvin Carr – 12 points, Cameron Fattore – 7 points)
Last game: Council Rock North 53, Bensalem 42 (Kyle McCloskey – 16 points; Brandon Knotts – 9 points; Chris Rowland – 8 points; Josh McWilliams – 8 points)
Council Rock South 66, Neshaminy 47
Council Rock North
Projected starters:
#3 – Josh Josephs (Sr., Guard)
#14 – Ryan Baker (6-2, Sr., Forward)
#20 – Nate Kardos (6-1, Sr., Guard)
#22 – Brandon Knotts (5-10, Sr., Guard)
#32 – Kyle McCloskey (6-6, Sr., Forward)
The rest of the Indians:
#2 – Josh McWilliams (5-10, Jr., Guard)
#10 – Rip Engel (5-10, Jr., Guard)
#12 – Matt Margolis (6-0, Soph., Guard)
#21 – Chris Rowland (6-1, Jr., Guard)
#23 – Steve Nowmos (6-3, Soph., Forward)
#34 – Quinn Johnson (6-4, Jr., Forward)
#40 – Will Desautelle (6-1, Fr., Guard)
#50 – Tyler Madison (6-6, Jr., Forward)
#32 – Rich Duncan-Murphy (6-4, Sr., Center)
#44 – Josh Hymon-Nichols (6-3, Jr., Forward)
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