Christian Brothers is all together on the court

<p><span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">At any level of basketball, it’s hard to keep everyone happy. It’s hard to keep everyone on one accord.</span></p> <p>But, Christian Brothers head coach Bubba Luckett has been able to pull it off with his senior class that’s mixed with a talented junior class.</p> <p>Just imagine if seniors <strong>Reese</strong> <strong>McMullen</strong>, <strong>Harrison</strong> <strong>Kelly</strong> or <strong>Eli</strong> <strong>Federman</strong> transferred to another school. Yeah, it’s safe to say that all three players would have been one of the top two players on most teams, but would they have been in an unselfish, family-oriented program?</p> <p>Probably not.</p> <p>In a convincing 79-45 win over John Paul II on Senior Night, everyone was happy, especially the seniors that usually don’t log in minutes. It was almost like a family gathering, with the bench cheering on the nine seniors to soak in every possession of each quarter, just in case the opportunity doesn’t come around a second time.</p> <p>University of Pennsylvania commit McMullen scored only six points in his team’s victory, but wasn’t upset at his stat line. He was happy about the win. McMullen has had games like this before, which happens to every solid player. But to be a part of an unselfish group that just wants to win is priceless.</p> <p>Kelly finished with 10 points and four rebounds. He missed a handful of shots that usually fall, but he wasn’t frowning inside the locker room after the final buzzer. Federman, a spearheaded guard, was all about the great team win and played a huge part in it, finishing with 10 points, four assists, three rebounds, two blocks and one steal.</p> <p>Senior <b>Sam</b> <b>Lakey</b> also finished 10 points. He also had three assists and two rebounds. </p> <p>Seniors <strong>Collin</strong> <strong>Beatty</strong> and <strong>Nicholas</strong> <strong>Stokes</strong> don’t see the floor that much but still feels part of the team. Both players told coach, individually, “I know what my role is. My role is to get the guys ready to play and teach the younger kids what our culture is like.”</p> <p>“These are the type of young guys I have,” Luckett said. “They don’t moan and groan. They come to practice every day. They even ask ‘Can we go against the big guys to help these younger guys every day in practice?’ That’s the kind of thing that keeps a guy like me in this for 38 years.</p> <p>“Having guys not moaning and groaning because they’re not getting to play much. They love being a part of it. They’re good enough in practice to help people get better, and they know what their roles are. When we win games, I let everyone know, regardless of how much you played, you were part of the win because of the things we do leading up to the game.”</p> <p>It’s obvious that Luckett’s team doesn’t take games and this riddled season – filled with uncertainty each day due to Covid – for granted because they all cheer for one another as if they’re on a deep postseason run.</p> <p>Junior point guard <strong>Chandler</strong> <strong>Jackson, </strong>who led his team with 15 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal Friday night, cheer on his teammates all the time. He made his presence felt on Senior Night, cheering for every senior on the floor to score, while also coaching with his arms going in different directions.</p> <p>Each Friday, Jackson sends out a text message to his teammates that will read “Great job this week guys. Let’s make sure we make smart decisions over the weekend. Wear your masks if you go out and let’s keep this thing going. Love you guys.”</p> <p>This team is all in on winning and is one of the best teams in Division II-AA this season. The Purple Wave defeated an Ensworth team featuring Kentucky commit <strong>Skyy</strong> <strong>Clark</strong>, his brother <strong>Zachiah</strong> <strong>Clark</strong> and junior big man <strong>Malik</strong> <strong>Dia</strong>, on its home floor on the same weekend as the Iverson Classic. Christian Brothers also defeated Houston at home earlier this season.</p> <p>The Purple Wave are in the conversation as state title contenders along with MUS, the Tigers and defending champion Knoxville Catholic.</p>