Written by Kenzie James \/\/ Photo provided by McKenna Oliver<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Harding men\u2019s and women\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven if we can\u2019t score, we have to be able to get stops, and that\u2019s what wins games,\u201d Geer said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d senior forward Sage Hawley said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Head men\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe closer your team is \u2026 when it gets to the end of the game, then you\u2019ll battle for the person next to you if you\u2019re connected to them off the floor as well,\u201d Jameson said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harding\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Rhodes Rowdies is the official Harding student section for the basketball games. In 2013, the Rhodes-Reaves Field House was voted \u201cBest Road Trip Destination in College Basketball\u201d because of the Rhodes Rowdies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The basketball teams this year are trying to \u201cRevive the Rhodes\u201d 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve actually won every home game this year where students have been in school,\u201d Jameson said. \u201cWe would love for [students] to support our guys.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The teams are trying to increase the number of college students in the student section, but the Rhodes Rowdies isn\u2019t just limited to Harding\u2019s college students. Faculty members\u2019 kids and Harding Academy students have been part of the Rhodes Rowdies this season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey are the Rhodes Rowdies right now,\u201d said Hawley. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both teams will continue their conference schedules tomorrow as they travel to Durant, Oklahoma to take on Southeastern Oklahoma State University.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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