The Berries are shooting for improvement in Friday night’s game against the Muncie Central Bearcats as the Berries fell to the Lewis Cass Kings during last Friday’s match-up 52-35. 

The Berries (1-2) have had a rough start to their season after being defeated by the Peru Tigers and the Kings. The Berries did prevail over the Pioneer Panthers 59-25 in the first round of the Logansport Saving Bank Tournament.

“We have been working transition offense, shooting, and rebounding,” head coach Matt Lange said. 

Entering Friday night’s match-up, the Bearcats have a 2-0 record after defeating Wapahani 49-47 and Guerin Catholic 55-47. Senior Daniel Harris leads the Bearcats averaging 15.5 points per game, five rebounds per game, and is shooting 63 percent from the arch. Senior Antiono Gore is assisting the Bearcats on the defensive side of the ball averaging five rebounds and two steals per game.

For the Berries, junior Jacob Taylor is averaging 13.7 points per game. The 6’5″, 187 lbs. junior is averaging 46 percent from the arch. Alongside Taylor, junior Izak Russell averages 10.7 points per game. Senior Izak Mock averages 7 rebounds per game. Junior Cooper Smith helps the Berries on defense averaging 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. 

“We are getting better every day,” Lange said. “I am proud of how hard they have been working and look forward to how good we can get.”

The Berries are missing a key component to their starting five, senior Grayson Long, who recently had surgery on his meniscus.

“He will hopefully be back after Christmas, ” Lange said.  “We have missed his size and strength, but the guys are doing a great job in his absence.” 

Despite Long’s injury, the Berries are heading into Friday’s night game with high expectations. 

“I expect that we play hard and give it everything that we have,” Lange said.