Reflecting on the ‘25-‘26 Boys Basketball season
Every season has its own story, but this one was built on 5:30 am practices, loud gyms, and, most importantly, a team that kept showing up. The 2025-2026 boys’ varsity basketball team, with a 9-21 record, experienced a season filled with growth, obstacles, and teamwork.
The season began in late November, and since then the team experienced success both on and off the court. They won against tough teams such as Wheeling, Fenton, and St. Francis and developed not only as players, but also people.
Second year varsity head coach Greg Grana said, “I saw real growth in maturity and responsibility. Those are things that will matter long after basketball, and seeing that growth was one of the most rewarding parts of the season.”
These players continue to prove themselves through their behavior not only as student athletes but also as people, which, Grana says, is one of the more important lessons to take away from being a basketball player.
Grana is loved by his students and players. Point guard Joey Biedke, ‘28, said, “Grana’s ability to try and get the team to stay together through the tough times allows us to be a successful team and continue to push through.”
Although only Grana’s second year as head coach, he said, “This season reinforced the importance of patience, communication, and trust. Progress isn’t always linear, and tough seasons can still be valuable if the focus stays on development.” He said he aims to continue to improve the performance of this team by keeping the sportsmanship and positive attitude between players high.
Although they faced tough losses against opponents such as Schaumburg, Naperville North, and Hoffman Estates, they kept pushing through. After an initial loss against Schaumburg at home on December 5, a month later the Cougars played hard at Schaumburg. Despite the game ending in a loss, they closed the gap down to a six point difference.
Although they didn’t always achieve the results they hoped for, they put in the work. Coach Grana said, “This year came with plenty of challenges–close losses and stretches where things just didn’t click. We addressed those obstacles by staying consistent with expectations and focusing on controllables: effort, preparation, and attitude. We talked openly as a team, leaned into adversity instead of avoiding it, and emphasized growth over results. It wasn’t always easy, but the group stayed committed to working and improving.”
The Cougars played their final game of the season during a neutral playoff game at home, where they faced the Stevenson Patriots. Although the game resulted in a loss, this season meant much more to the team and Coach Grana than a number on the score board.
Grana said, “Practices where the energy was high even after a tough loss, players showing up early or staying late to get extra shots up, and guys holding each other accountable really defined this season for me. There were games where the result didn’t go our way, but the way the team competed, adjusted, and stayed together showed a level of resilience I’m proud of.”
