Community, students rally together to fire up boys varsity basketball team

Julia Demma and lakecentralnews

With the varsity boys basketball team advancing to state a pep rally was held in the gym Wed. night at 6 p.m. to acknowledge their accomplishments and fire them up for state this Saturday.

The pep rally began with the school song, played by the Lake Central pep band, accompanied by the cheerleaders. First to take the microphone for a speech was coach Dave Milausnic. He spoke to the crowd and the team about what an accomplishment the varsity team has made this season and how, “We aren’t done yet.”

“The speeches and the pep rally itself really upped my confidence for the game. [The pep rally] was a great atmosphere and it’s great feeling knowing we have this much support going into Saturday,” Cory Dickelman (12) said.

Chris Kostouros (’85) was a member of the 1984 team that made it to the final four, which was the last time LC made an appearance in the State Finals. He talked to the team and fired them up for the big game this weekend. Kostouros ended his speech by putting on his old Lake Central letterman jacket.

“Go out there on Saturday and get that net, boys!” Kostorous said.

The ceremony came to a close with the crowd cheering, “ We are LC” and a playing of the school song. After the speeches and cheers, the basketball team sat at long tables and signed posters and t-shirts for their fans.

“It was great seeing all of our fans come out on their spring break and I wouldn’t want to spend my spring break any other way. This pep rally has made me very excited for the game knowing that we will have a big group of fans coming down with us who will support us and cheer for us no matter what,” Tyler Ross (12) said.

The 104th annual IHSAA boys basketball state finals game versus Indianapolis Arsenal Technical will be this Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Estimated tip off time is 8:15 p.m. EST. Tickets will be sold at the door for $15 each.