SJO Daily also reached out to St. Joseph Middle School’s seventh-grade boys’ basketball coach Wes Miller for an interview, too. With the quick turnaround of the Sectional Championship and the Elite 8 game on Friday, we were not able to get that interview in time. Whether the Panthers win or lose Saturday, we will cover their team next week.
“I am really proud of the team and really like bragging on them,” Prairieview-Ogden seventh-grade boys’ basketball coach Chase Gilliland said.
With an 18-8 record, the Mustangs will make an appearance in the IESA 7-1A Elite 8 Saturday when they face Lincoln Carrol Catholic at 2:30 p.m. at East Peoria Central Junior High School.
“Defeating a very good Schlarman Academy team for the Regional Championship on their home court was a high, but we knew we still had to keep our focus,” Gilliland said.
“We knew that we would be facing a good St. Malachy team, that only had one loss this season for a chance to go to State. Beating that team last night on their home floor was the ultimate high of the season so far.”
A season that Gilliland said felt like two separate teams.
The change happened when Caleb Ochs had a season-ending injury to his left wrist. Prior to that event, Gilliland said the Mustangs relied on Ochs to score.
“Most games he was scoring over half of our points,” Gilliland said. “I feel like the rest of the team was okay with that. They sat back and let him do his thing. They knew that if they were able to help in other ways (defense, rebounding, effort) that Caleb would take care of our scoring.”
Disappointed that their teammate was injured, the Mustangs hit a rough spot right before winter break, losing to Westville and Tuscola.
Then, joined by a few sixth-grade athletes PVO began to hit their stride.
“During the week between Christmas and New Year we hosted the First Annual PVO Holiday Classic at Flatville,” Gilliland said. “We won all three games taking home the first-place trophy. I think at this point in the season the players started to realize what they could accomplish if everyone stepped up and did their part.”
Their improvement was on the back of some early-season goals. The athletes wanted to win games and get better throughout the season.
“You play the regular season taking it one game at a time understanding that if you put enough wins together you will put yourself in a position come the post season that you want to be in,” Gilliland said.
Going into Saturday’s tournament with one day to refocus on another opponent, the Mustangs will practice one more time and go over scouting reports.
“Ultimately, we are just going to continue to play our game and have fun. Basketball is a fun game and advancing this far is not something that happens every year at our school. We will take it all in and enjoy the experience.”
But the 2018-2019 season Mustangs will take away a little bit more with them than just an appearance at State.
“My goal is to see growth in my team. How do they develop from the first practice to the last? I am not only talking about on the court but off the court,” Gilliland said.
“One of my favorite things about coaching at this level is what I call “light bulb” moments. When we have been preaching something all season and it finally clicks. Sometimes that is with one individual player or the group as a whole.”
While watching the team accomplish their goals on the court, the coaches (Chase and Assistant Coach Jamey Gilliland) have enjoyed watching each athlete grow as a person.
“Each player on the team plays a certain role and they understand what that is. Some of those roles have changed throughout the season and they boys have ran with it. For instance, after Caleb’s injury he knew that he had to become the best teammate that he could be.”
“He has become like a third coach for our team, using his basketball knowledge to help out our other players.”
A tight-knit group of boys, Gilliland said they encourage each other and want each other to succeed.
“Not just because it will mean winning more games, but they truly care about their friends/ teammates.”
These qualities have made for practice and games that have a balance of fun and focus.
“I couldn’t be prouder of them for what they have accomplished so far this season and we hope to keep it going,” he said. “I am so excited as a coach that I get another season with them after this one comes to an end. No just because they are a good team, but because they are a fun group to be around.
“I don’t have any kids yet, but I consider all the boys I coach my kids. I try to help them out however I can. They’re my boys!”
