Abby Gambrall | Reporter
Boys’ basketball is tipping off their season with a challenging start. Over half of the Varsity returners were quarantined during the first day of try-outs and could not attend. Luckily, those students were able to try out at a later date.
Senior Zion Lindsey, who has played for Avon since his freshman year, said the pandemic has heavily impacted the team this year.
“We weren’t allowed to have summer leagues or summer tournaments, and last year, playing in those helped us get a better feel for each other and get better as an overall team,” Lindsey said.
Lindsey said the crowds look different than in past years due to social distancing and COVID-19 restrictions.
“My favorite thing about basketball is the crowds at the games, but we don’t know how that will be this year. My favorite thing [is] hearing the excitement with them,” Lindsey said.
Two years ago, the Varsity team won Sectionals. Lindsey said this year’s goal is to achieve that again.
“The team’s overall goal, like every year, is to win Sectionals,” Lindsey said “But, it’s going to be harder this year than previous years. We will still try to reach it.”
Lindsey said that after last season, the team lost a couple of strong players.
“We lost a lot of pieces with Gabe McNary and Jayden Brewer leaving. Jayden and Gabe were leading scorers, so we’re really going to have to pick it up on offense,” Lindsey said.
McNary now plays for Warren Central, and Brewer attends Ben Davis High School.
Lindsey said he hopes to help the team out more this year than last year.
“My personal goal is to be a team contributor, because last season was a rough year for me,” Lindsey said. “I really didn’t think that I did anything to contribute to the overall success of the team.”
Regardless of the effects of COVID-19, the boys are looking forward to having a fun season.
Junior Chrishon McCray, a point guard who has played for Avon for three years, said he thinks this season will go great.
“My favorite thing about basketball is just the bond that we have with each other. Our team’s overall goal is to leave a legacy for the younger guys. My goal personally is just to be as helpful to the team as possible,” McCray said.
Lindsey said the team has a tight bond and that they have similar goals. McCray and Lindsey both said they want to help out their teammates.
“My goal is just to be as helpful to the team as possible,” McCray said.
This season is full of uncertainty due to COVID-19, but the team is still looking forward to excitement-filled games as well as rivalries.
“I am most excited to play Brownsburg,” McCray said.
The Avon Echo 
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