At 2-7 earlier this season, odds are not many had Fort Wayne Canterbury pegged as a team that could make a deep run in the Class A playoffs.
But, those people’s opinions don’t matter much now as the Cavaliers (18-9) will play for a Class A state title Saturday morning against Bethesda Christian (23-7). For Canterbury coach Daric Adams advancing to the state title game “feels wonderful.”
“This has been a goal within the program for my tenure. We knew going into the season that we had a team that was fully capable of making a run like this. We began seriously talking about this during our 22-23 season’s sectional,” Adams told Indiana Preps.
During that season, the Cavaliers fell short in the sectional championship against eventual runner-up, Southwood.
“At that point in time, we determined that we were going to commit to this season being our run,” Adams said.
And, it has been, thanks in part to the play of Devon Lewis, John Parent and Tucker Day. Those three have been the steady hands for the Cavaliers, but Adams admits it has been a total team effort.
“Throughout the season, we have seen others step into leadership roles when necessary. Ashton Dressler and Jackson Davis have presented both play driven and vocal leadership, as well. Devon is our engine. He provides so many different leadership styles. He understands how to utilize those different styles for each of his teammates. Devon is the guy that is always impacting the game on several different levels,” Adams said.
The fourth year coach said Parent and Day have helped “deliver the needed message, whether it is through verbal cues or actions on the court.”
Squaring off against Bethesda Christian, who has not lost since Jan. 6, Adams said he sees a lot of his team when watching Bethesda Christian.
“After watching a lot of film, the one thing that stood out to me is that Bethesda is a lot like looking in the mirror. Everything seems to start for them, much like it does for us, on the defensive end. They have strong guards that control pace and can certainly shoot it. For us to leave as state champions, we need to be us. That is what we have been preaching all season long. Us means we are relentless but not reckless. We don’t need to play perfect but we need to continue to do the things that have gotten us to this point. My message to the team is simple, and it has always been, I love you guys and let’s go be us,” Adams said.