Camaraderie Leading TC Boys’ BKB to Unbeaten Start After Win Over Treynor

Camaraderie Leading TC Boys’ BKB to Unbeaten Start After Win Over Treynor -

(1-7-26) – Ice cold. Confident. Never seems like at doubt with the Tri-Center boys’ basketball.

The 6th-ranked Trojans passed their biggest test of the season Tuesday, a 61-58 victory over 2nd-ranked and Western Iowa Conference rival Treynor on their home court.

Cael Witt drilled a 3-ptr from the left corner with 2.1 seconds left to give Tri-Center the lead for good. Trojan Coach Chad Harder felt good about Witt’s shot.

“I thought when it was on the way, kind of never know as far as like lining up but he shot it with so much confidence and again, he's taken that shot how many times in practice, how many times probably in his yard.”

Things didn’t start off easy for the Trojans who found themselves down 19-5 after the 1st qtr. Harder feels his team was a little too amped up for the Cardinals.

“We were just too hyped up right out of the gate and not that we didn't follow the game plan, but we just were, we were up in them too much and really just, we were sped up and we didn't make some shots we should make and things like that. But mostly, after that defense really, really buckled down and that's what led to good offense.”

That’s when the offense whittled away at their deficit, making it 10 pts at halftime, and 5 pts after the 3rd qtr.

Harder says the game-winning shot wasn’t actual drawn up for Witt, but the intelligent improvisation of his players made it work.

“The play wasn't designed for him initially, but these kids just improvised,” said Harder. “We had drawn up a play and a play that's been pretty effective for us over the years. But (Treynor) came and double teamed the ball and Jaden Johnson had told AJ and just said, ‘Hey, if they come and double team, they've not been guarding that backside very well. So he flashed the ball, skipped over to Cael, Cael shot faked, had somebody blow by him, and knocked down the three.”

Witt even predicted he’d hit the game winner.

“I think that he came over, he told the bench, ‘You guys ready for a game winner?’”

But it’s that confidence from Witt that allows Harder to not be surprised when he makes plays under pressure.

“It just didn't shock me, and especially somebody like Cael who, the plays he's made in football and baseball and all the things he's done over the years, like, you love having players like that on your team.”

But it’s not just Witt that makes this team go. Players like AJ Harder running the offense and doing what he needs to do to help his team win, including a 28-pt performance against Treynor.

Since this group of players has reached the top levels of every sport they play, including a state football championship in 2024, the mentality and work ethic of these players helps them succeed.

“These kids are just winners!” says Harder. “You know, it's not even about winning games. Like they come to practice every day and they are locked in and our practices have just been unreal this year.”

And it’s the camaraderie and accountability by this group that Harder enjoys most when coaching them.

“These guys are great friends. They're brothers and it's just like I said, it's a fun thing to be a part of. It's a fun thing sometimes just to sit back and watch them and honestly, with this group, there's never a dull moment, no matter where we are.”

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats