Stagg has turned the page on a frustrating season that produced just one win.
“We’ve been improving every day going into camp,” rising junior Dovydas Zuperka said at the Chargers’ Ray Milnes Summer Shootout in mid-June. “It’s going to help us as we get closer to next season.”
Coach Marty Strus and his assistants are focused on getting the Chargers “bigger, faster and stronger.” The hope is that when the hits come from opposing teams, they can bounce back quicker.
“Obviously you don’t want to repeat that,” Strus said about going 1-29. “We took a lot of hits. They kept coming and we weren’t quite ready.”
Zuperka and fellow rising junior Mo Farhan were there for all of that and intend to write a different story next season.
“I can always do better in the post, but I also want to improve my jumper,” Farhan said.
Zuperka’s focus?
“Being confident,” he said. “Having confidence in getting to the paint and making free throws when fouled. I just want to have positive energy when on the floor.”
Strus recognized the challenges Farhan and Zuperka faced as sophomores starting on varsity. But he believes they’re stronger for it.
“They had success and success builds confidence,” Strus said. “As sophomores, you are just wide-eyed of the experience in varsity games as you get bigger crowds and the speed and physicality is different.”
“Coach has the confidence in us so we should (have confidence), too,” said Zuperka, who was the Chargers’ MVP last season. “That should definitely play a big part because Coach believes in us, and even if we make a mistake, it’s OK. Just play through.”
The shootout was part of the rebuilding process for the Chargers.
“Anytime we get the chance to play, we use those things from practice and use them in the game,” Zuperka said. “It is really important that we focus during practice as it is going to help us as we get closer to the season.”
Farhan and Zuperka have been playing together since they were in junior high at Conrady in Palos Hills. The plan is to continue to improve separately and as a unit.
“We can be better,” Farhan said. “From now until the beginning of the season, I think we will get better and we’re going to be really good.”