As the boys basketball season begins to take its final turn, the Titans sit in fifth place in the Central Suburban League South, with a 5-14 record overall, and 1-6 conference record. According to head coach Scott Nemecek, the boys shouldn’t be hanging their heads after overcoming adversity for most of the season.

The Titans opened up conference play by losing games to Waukegan, New Trier and Maine South, leaving them at 0-3 in conference play before they picked up their first victory at Niles West.

According to assistant coach Mark Gallagher, the win at Niles West served as a positive form of release for the Titans.

“We released the grip a little, we found a way to let go without giving up any of our [aggression],” Gallagher said.

Building off of the confidence they gained at Niles West, GBS then defeated Palatine at home, despite missing multiple starters.

South has struggled to stay healthy all season, but, according to Nemecek, the team’s deep bench should get credit for stepping up when needed.

“I probably play our bench more than any other coach does,” Nemecek said. “We’re talking about guys who get off the bench and [know how to be a positive contribution].”

The Titans’ coaching staff also praises senior captains Jamie Nikitas, Victor Levi and TJ Mihelic for keeping the team’s morale high. According to Nikitas, the team has felt more spirited after their past couple of wins following their poor opening stretch.

“We have just done our best to do what [Nemecek] asks of us,” Nikitas said. “We know what we have to do vocally, by example, and on-and-off the court.”

Levi agrees, explaining that, as a whole, the leadership is strong and that he has gotten better at providing on-the-court leadership.

“We work as a trio to get everyone on the same page and to go hard,” Levi said. “Personally, I have been trying to talk more to get guys together.”

After picking up two wins, the team was in a rhythm, according to Mihelic.

“It definitely [brought] up our confidence, winning is much more fun than losing so we’ve had much more fun as a team,” Mihelic said.

According to junior starter Jusin Busiel, the coaches’ decision to use the team’s quickness to their advantage has and will lead to further victories.

“I think the coaches have been just letting us play more than at the beginning,” Busiel said. “We are an athletic team and they encourage us just to get out and run and not focus on running sets.”

Junior Matt Siegel realizes that adversity can be tough to overcome, but this year’s team is very resilient.

“Sometimes adversity can rip teams apart, and we have certainly had our fair share, but we have [maintained] our composure very well and are moving in the right direction,” Siegel explained.

Despite their recent victories, South has once again encountered struggles with losses to Evanston and Waukegan.

Even with the Titans current record, a regional championship is still what GBS strives to play for.