Sometimes, it just takes time for teams to get going.  It isn't how you start but it is how you finish and right now, Gaston Christian is playing extremely well to start the new year.  But you can say it all started back at the Phenom Holiday Classic, when they pulled up one of the biggest upsets to date in North Carolina, defeating Word of God 64-63 in Rock Hill.  Yes, they also had to face Moravian Prep and suffered a loss (but really battled) but since the start of 2022, the Eagles have now won four straight and are playing well.

Not knowing how long this win streak will continue but that doesn't really matter; the fact is that Gaston Christian is starting to really put it all together.' Phenom Hoops just watched them again in action against Cardinal Newman at the Carmel Christian MLK Showcase and you can see that this team is buying in and starting to understand what it takes to win.

When speaking with Coach Blair, he believes his players are just buying into what it takes to win.

“Players are buying into the work that it takes to be a winner, collectively and individually,” Coach Blair told Phenom Hoops. “They enjoy playing basketball, coming to practice, and preparing for games. They just seem to believe in the process.”

If you haven't watched this group yet, you first look at the guard position behind 2024 Jahseem Felton and 2023 Isaiah Tate, two prospects that are playing very well these days.  Felton has really elevated his game as of late and it looks like he is having fun out on the court, showing that he can be a strong, dynamic scorer from all levels and fill up the stat sheet.  Tate is averaging 16.6 points per game to date, shooting the ball extremely well and making plays for his team. 

They also have others that are stepping up to the plate. 2024 Joe Rhyne is being a big threat from behind the arc, 2026 Cameron Newman is showing a mature feel despite being in eighth grade, 2023 Corey Gaines does a little bit of everything on the court on both sides, and 2022 Greg Brockington is stepping up as a leader on the floor. 

Gaston also has others that really understand and are playing their roles; Edgar Escobedo, Roman Hawk, and Preston Shuford all have played well this season as well.

Overall, this team seems to be clicking to start the new year, playing team basketball, and understanding where they excel and how they can win.  From starting the season 5-9 and now sitting nearly at .500 on the year, the Eagles could be a team to watch if they continue to play the way they have in 2022 so far.