Chemistry on the Court
As the Lakes Community High School varsity basketball season moves forward, four new varsity players have stepped up and begun making their mark. Tony Loyola, Nico Rosado, Lawson Caruth, and Clayton Barker have each brought effort, commitment, and a competitive mindset to the team as they adjust to the challenges of playing varsity level.
For many of the new players, the biggest difference when moving from JV to varsity, is the level of intensity. Loyola shared that practices have been much more demanding this year, with a greater focus on competition, film study, and scout work before games. “We compete a lot more,” Loyola said. He also adds that staying committed to the program and following team values is key to the team’s future. His personal goals include winning conference and earning more minutes on the court.
Nico Rosado also emphasized how different the varsity experience has been. He noted that the team already has as many wins as last season, even though they are only halfway through the year.
“Practice is a lot harder and competitive,” Rosado said.
He believes that fully committing outside of practice and participating in competitive runs is important for players hoping to move up from JV. Like Loyola, Rosado’s main team goal is to win conference.
Lawson Caruth has seen noticeable improvement in his game since last season, crediting his growth to spending more time practicing during the offseason. He believes that hard work and playing outside of organized practices are essential for younger players who want to succeed. Caruth’s main focus this season is contributing to the team in any way he can. He also mentioned that the team chemistry has improved, making practice more enjoyable and productive.
Clayton Barker described the season as having “ups and downs,” but overall a solid experience. He pointed out that varsity requires a much greater time commitment, especially with film study, pregame preparation, and more serious training. Barker advised JV players to attend lifting sessions and open gyms to prepare for the next level. He also noted that this year’s team is very group oriented, with everyone holding each other accountable rather than relying on one single leader.
Across the court, the new varsity players agreed that team chemistry has played a major role in making the season successful. Whether it’s teammates pushing each other in practice or supporting one another during games, the bond within the team has helped ease the transition to varsity level basketball.
As the team continues, Loyola, Rosado, Caruth, and Barker will look to keep improving, support their teammates, and help Lakes Community High School compete for a conference title. Their hard work and dedication demonstrates that the future of Lakes varsity basketball is in good hands.
