Most high school basketball teams break down their huddle with their team name, or a simple word such as, “win”. The Eagles of Liberty North are not like most high school basketball teams. They break down every huddle with a word that is extremely important and valued by their whole squad: family.

“Being a family means being there for each other and supporting one another through any circumstance, both on and off the court,” senior Nadhir Daughtery said.

Basketball is not only about the skill of the athletes playing on the court, but also about how teammates interact with each other, and how a team deals with tough situations.

“There is a lot of potential for difficult times in this sport, so it is important you have people that you can trust and rely on. Making sure they are there to help is the biggest thing,” head basketball coach Chris McCabe said.

The statistics, and overall season records for the Eagles speak for itself in that the philosophy of being a family is crucial to success.

“The biggest thing is that they are not selfish, and there is no room for selfishness. That allows the team to reach their full potential. The team’s success is more important to them than their individual success,” McCabe said.

Not only has the family philosophy brought on much success for the Eagles, it has also allowed the guys to have more fun, and create a very special bond.

“It makes the whole experience more fun because we’re teammates, friends and brothers,” junior Ian Sanderford said.