In just 24 hours, the Eagles made significant improvements.

Joseph High School’s first basketball game this season – a loss on Dec. 4 to Adrian High by the lopsided score of 56-34 at a tournament in Prairie City – was promptly followed by a nail biter. As the final buzzer sounded, sophomore Trevor Lewis made a bid to knot the score against the home team but his three-point try caromed off the rim. Defeated, 46-43, coach Ron Lathrop saw potential in his young squad.

“Experience, playing time – that’s all they need,” Lathrop said. “I foresee them being a pretty good team somewhere down the road. How long that’ll take is up to them.”

Most of the weekend, Joseph rotated six players. Lewis totaled 19 points, junior Matt Doud scored 16, junior Zack Staidle 12, sophomore Anthony Smallen 11, junior Ian Baynes 10 and junior Forest Watson 9.

Joseph also hosted Enterprise for a Dec. 8 game. That was scheduled too late for this edition of the Chieftain.

However, the Eagles will drive Dec. 11 and 12 to Enterprise for the Winter Classic.