At the beginning of this season, the La Lumiere’s Girls Varsity team held a meeting in which they identified three words for their season: grit, growth, and unity. “They have embraced the gritty mentality and are going to outwork whoever is on the court,” Head Coach Matt Marvin said. This drive has rewarded the team throughout the season. With five games left, the team has claimed the South Shore Athletic Conference title and upset nationally ranked South Bend Washington this past Saturday.

On the court, this mentality has been demonstrated by the players’ willingness to take charges, dive for loose balls, and fight for every rebound. “That is the culture they have created on their own and the team has bought into,” Coach Marvin said.

For La Lumiere’s Boys Varsity Blue team, buying in has been essential for the team’s success as well, but this had been a process for months before the season officially kicked off. “I think this goes back to September, when guys were wanting to get up at 6:00 a.m. and go to the Field House and play five on five to build team chemistry on the court and learn how one another played,” Head Coach Brandon Wright said. This opportunity to play together was essential for the squad, which has players from seven different countries and with different styles of play.

An additional benefit that Coach Wright sees is that the players are spending time together outside of basketball, “a lot of our new guys have blended into the community by playing other sports and immersing themselves in our La Lumiere community,” Coach Wright said. “Many of our guys are playing multiple sports in the year and they are able to build relationships, which helps when it comes to the start of the season.”

The boys team also holds a perfect record in the conference and has claimed their conference championship. Just two weeks ago, the boys team defeated the previous conference champions, Victory Christian. La Lumiere senior Owen Kmety is recognizing the achievements of the team, but taking away lessons that go beyond this season. “I've learned to never take any moments in the gym for granted. Whether practicing, competing against other schools, or simply just shooting around, every second in the gym is a blessing. Looking back, this season moved rather quickly, and it seems as if only a few weeks ago we were getting up at six in the morning to scrimmage in preparation for the season. This has been an especially memorable year for the Boys Varsity Blue program as we've truly made some noise this year with our many successes, and I'm confident that next year's team will raise the bar ever higher.”

With many players having abbreviated or no seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact in the 2021 season, Coach Marvin believes the players on all sports teams are appreciating the time they have to be a team and compete. For seniors who have been with the team for three or four years, he is especially grateful. “They have been through the growth of the program and I am appreciative for their loyalty and continued effort over the years.”

La Lumiere senior Dara Capaldi echoed Coach Marvin, “A lesson I have learned is that anything is possible, I’ve been on this team for three years and to see what this girls program is turning into is honestly the best reward I could ask for. These girls have taught me if you work hard enough and keep pushing for something that you can get it! I love this team and I love being a part of the story we have begun to write!”

With a handful of games left to play in the season, we look forward to the continued success of both teams. The lessons learned in this season will go a long way as our Lakers continue down their athletic and academic paths.

La Lumiere Claims Both South Shore Athletic Conference Titles