Royals have turned program around
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Eastern Hancock coach Jeremy Powers keeps a John Wooden book nearby for words of wisdom. Tom Russo photo/Daily Reporter.
SO FAR
Between 2004-05 and 2010-11, the Royals averaged over 16 losses per season. Those days are long gone, however. The new-and-improved Eastern Hancock basketball program is well on its way to its second-straight winning campaign. The Royals went 12-9 last season and, at 7-3 entering Tuesday’s matchup against Cambridge City Lincoln, EH won’t have any trouble reaching double-digit wins.
EH was 7-3 through 10 games last year, as well. But this season’s squad is markedly better on the offensive end of the court. The Royals are netting 53.3 points, their first excursion past the half-century mark since 2003-04, and more than 10 points better than their 2011-12 average. The Class 2A Royals’ defense has remained steady, allowing 48.2 points, roughly the same as last season (46 ppg), even though they suffered a 74-45 loss Nov. 24 to 3A Indian Creek, which is new to the Royals’ schedule this season.
“Our team saying for the year comes from coach (Tom) Crean at IU: ‘Compete, Win, Win Consistently, and Win Championships,’” EH second-year coach Jeremy Powers noted. “We had to develop a winning attitude around here when we took over. We had to get the girls believing in that attitude, and now they know that every time they step onto the court they are going to be winners.”
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