Written by Kenzie James // Photo provided by McKenna Oliver

The Harding men’s and women’s basketball teams are on a winning streak halfway through the season, which they credit to their confidence in each other and the growing student participation.

Both teams focus a lot on defense during their games, particularly during the games against Southwestern Oklahoma Jan.18 and Northwestern Oklahoma Jan. 20. Junior guard Rory Geer said that in the games against the Bulldogs and Rangers, the team gave up points during the game based on how they were guarding the other team.

“Even if we can’t score, we have to be able to get stops, and that’s what wins games,” Geer said.

A lot of what goes into strengthening the basketball team happens behind the scenes and off the court. Basketball season starts in November and goes through early March, so players have quality time to connect with each other.

“We all go through our own seasons in the season of basketball, so walking alongside each other through that is part of being a basketball player,” senior forward Sage Hawley said.

Head men’s basketball coach Weston Jameson described how he has tried to prioritize the friendships between his players and how the connection between teammates becomes critical at the end of games.

“The closer your team is … when it gets to the end of the game, then you’ll battle for the person next to you if you’re connected to them off the floor as well,” Jameson said.

Harding’s performances have been impacted by the energy of the student section. Geer said the game against Northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday started to fill up with students in the fourth quarter, and the students energy helped the team come back to win the game.

The Rhodes Rowdies is the official Harding student section for the basketball games. In 2013, the Rhodes-Reaves Field House was voted “Best Road Trip Destination in College Basketball” because of the Rhodes Rowdies.

The basketball teams this year are trying to “Revive the Rhodes” and rebuild the culture and experience in the student section. Jameson experienced the Rhodes Rowdies when he played as a student at Harding and said the student section was filled with fans with face paint, costumes and signs.

“We’ve actually won every home game this year where students have been in school,” Jameson said. “We would love for [students] to support our guys.”

The teams are trying to increase the number of college students in the student section, but the Rhodes Rowdies isn’t just limited to Harding’s college students. Faculty members’ kids and Harding Academy students have been part of the Rhodes Rowdies this season.

Hawley said there are four elementary and middle school boys at most of the games sitting under the basket, and they get the crowd going.

“They are the Rhodes Rowdies right now,” said Hawley.

Both teams will continue their conference schedules tomorrow as they travel to Durant, Oklahoma to take on Southeastern Oklahoma State University.