On Friday, Nov. 17, Libertyville High School’s boys basketball season tipped off with a scrimmage in which all levels participated.

Each level, freshman, sophomore and varsity, was divided into two teams: white and black.  

“We try to make [the teams] even. We try to split them up in a way where they’re just both going to be competitive,” said Mr. Brian Zyrkowski, head varsity coach.

According to Mr. Zyrkowski, “[The scrimmage is] a night to have fun. And this is about the players. It’s about all the involvement in the school with our cheerleaders, our poms, our JCats, our LadyCats; Ella Bach and Maddy Wittenbrink [did] a great job on the national anthem…it was just a fun night.” Both the JV and varsity levels of the LHS cheerleading and dance teams performed between games.

The event began with the freshmen, who played seven-minute halves. The black team won with a close score of 12-10. Their top scorer was Andrew Clark with six points.

Following the freshmen, the sophomores played seven-minute halves as well. The white team beat the black team 19-16.

Varsity’s black team defeated the white team 30-21, playing eight-minute halves.

Varsity senior Drew Peterson proved that he will be a valuable player this season with his numerous dunks and blocked passes throughout the scrimmage.  

“Drew Peterson is coming into another year where he’s an All-State, All-Area candidate,” Mr. Zyrkowski noted. “[He’s an] uncommitted Division I basketball player right now, and he’s leading this team.” Peterson has been on the varsity basketball team since his freshman year.

Coach Zyrkowski has high hopes for his team this year: “This team is very good in transition in the full court. They shoot the ball extremely well…this is a special group. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people. I think when they watch us play, we come out with that energy, that enthusiasm, and these guys are hungry. They’re hungry after last season [when] they went 12-16, and they want to play better. They want to do better. And they will.”

The varsity boys basketball team has set their goal for this season as winning conference.

The LHS boys varsity basketball team’s first regular season game is on Monday, Nov. 20, at St. Viator High School.