The 2024-2025 Kennedy Boys Basketball season started off strong with blowout scores of 83-60, 88-39 and 100-55. The next games were close but ended in losses of 73-79 and 68-70, the games following were blowout wins. However there is so much more to the game than the game itself.
“The goal is to get better everyday,” Head Coach Jon McKowen. “We’ve learned to play with some intensity and we’ve learned to get to our spots really fast.”
Last season, Kennedy was undefeated. This season the team has had more wins than losses, but they were able to boost their defense after filling in some of the gaps and being more aggressive, despite losing a strong senior class with 2024.
“At first we were learning where to be, where the ball is and being in the gap, but now we do better in the sense of being where we are supposed to be at the right time,” senior Pierce McCrary said.
The team has been learning to be more disciplined and determined to get better which shows at the 8 a.m. Saturday practices.
“The program impacted me to become a better player, a better person and it taught me to stay disciplined and consistent,” said McCrary.
Community is strong for many Kennedy basketball players, as many of them started in the “Jr Cougars”basketball program.
“It’s awesome,” senior Landon Dieters said. “Seeing them grow with me. We all got each others’ backs.”
Senior Trey McKowen is a top three leading scorer in the Mississippi Valley 4A conference. T. McKowen dedicates his placement to the trust he has in his team and teammates.
“It shows all the work I’ve put in over the summer and it shows the trust that my teammates have in me,” T. McKowen said.
The underclassmen and upcoming players need to know exactly how to lead a team and the importance of a positive mindset through good work ethic and trust. The senior leadership are showing them the way so when this group of seniors leave, they will have a good group to fill in the gaps
“We’re losing a good senior class but the juniors are learning to be able to fill a lot of those voids and the sophomore team is having a really good season so some of those guys will fit and be a part of the puzzle also. Kennedy basketball is looking good for the future,” J. McKowen said.
As the season approaches, the focus is on. Last season the Cougars made it all the way to the championship but lost to Valley. This year, the goal for the boys is to win it.
“Stay hungry, stay consistent, your time will come, really just keep grinding,” McCrary said.