Eagles looking forward to a more traditional season

CULVER — Last year was strange for every high school basketball team, but maybe more so for the Culver Academy hoopsters.

The Eagles ended up playing just 11 games during 202021. After their first three games, there was almost a month and a half before Game 4 was played, then another twoweek break between contests. The end of February was somewhat normal, but the season came to an abrupt end when the Academy lost in its Class 4A sectional opener to finish under .500 (5-6) for the first time in eight years.

This year should be a more traditional season and the Eagles schedule is back to its usually loaded docket. The Academy will be the first area school to start games, playing the first night allowed by the IHSAA (Nov. 22) before the school takes a week off for Thanksgiving. That contest will be against Indianapolis Home School, who the Eagles had a very competitive game with to start last year (a 59-54 CMA win). Also on the schedule are Final Four team South Bend Saint Joseph (Feb. 1), regional finalists Lafayette Central Catholic (Dec. 10) and Bowman Academy (Feb. 25), 4A schools Wesfield (Jan. 15), Chesterton (Jan. 29) and South Bend Riley (Feb. 15) that finished a combined 53-19 a year ago, NIC beast Mishawaka Marian (Jan. 18), and Fort Wayne schools Luers (Dec. 14) and Wayne (Dec. 4). There is a three and a half week break between games over Christmas.

One major change for the Academy in ‘21-’22 is that the Eagles have moved back down to 3A and are in the Kankakee Valley Sectional. They will most likely be the favorite in Sectional 18 which includes KV, Knox, New Prairie and Wheeler.

The players making up the roster include senior letterwinners Colin Chupp, Amir Gates, Jokubas Skurdenis and Daley Stein, along with juniors Thomas Collins, Folabomi Fayemi and Cooper Farrall. Farrall’s star has been rising after playing well in the travel basketball circuit last spring and summer. The 6-5 junior could be the Academy’s next Division I recruit. Stein, Collins and Fayemi will get additional minutes this year and are other players to keep an eye on.

“We are older, but still inexperienced,” said Culver Academy head coach Mark Galloway. “We have some versatility. Our JV was undefeated last year (11-0). We expect to play the same way, with toughness and aggressiveness. Our No. 1 goal is to get better every day and trust the process!”

Galloway will be assisted by former local head coach Doug Snyder (Argos, Laville, Triton), Blaine Schafer and Braydon Davidson. Ed Kelley is the Director of Basketball Operations.

Culver Academy Eagles

Coach: Mark Galloway, 156-96 in 12th year at school, 291-146 in 20th year overall

Nov. 22 Indianapolis Homeschool 7:30 pm

Dec. 3 at Mishawaka 4A 7:30 pm

Dec. 4 at Fort Wayne Wayne 4A 3:30 pm

Dec. 10 at Lafayette Central Catholic 1A 7:30 pm Dec. 11 Laporte 4A 7:30 pm

Dec. 14 at Fort Wayne Luers 3A 7:00 pm

Dec. 21 Dowagiac Union (Mich.) 7:30 pm

Jan. 14 Marquette Catholic 1A 8:00 pm

Jan. 15 at Westfield 4A 7:30 pm

Jan. 18 Mishawaka Marian 3A 7:30 pm

Jan. 22 Fort Wayne Canterbury 2A 10:00 am tournament Jan. 28 West Lafayette 3A 8:00 pm

Jan. 29 Chesterton 4A 7:30 pm

Feb. 1 at South Bend St. Joseph 3A 7:30 pm

Feb. 8 at Victory Christian 8:00 pm

Feb. 12 Merrillville 4A 6:00 pm

Feb. 15 at South Bend Riley 4A 7:30 pm

Feb. 18 Lalumiere Blue 7:00 pm

Feb. 19 at Maconaquah 3A 7:30 pm

Feb. 22 Gary 21st Century 1A 8:00 pm

Feb. 25 Bowman Academy 2A 8:00 pm