Bluejays fly back home in basketball season opener against Transylvania

Photo provided by- Elmhurst University Athletics

As the audience packed into the stands of R.A. Faganel Hall on Nov. 10 for the Elmhurst University men’s basketball team’s first game of the season against Transylvania University, the feeling of trepidation was high over how this season will follow up to last year.

The lights go dark and last season’s runner-up national champion team is seen on the center court, along with a reveal of the 2022 NCAA national runner-up banner that now hangs on the west end of R.A. Faganel Hall. 

Looking at players such as graduates Jake Rhode and Lavon Thomas, there is a wonder of how we are going to replace those big names and match up to the record-breaking 27 wins last year’s team achieved.

The no. 23 ranked Elmhurst men’s basketball team undeniably heard all the doubters and knew that they had a lot of people to prove wrong entering this game.

Returning players such as captains Wesley Hooker and Ocean Johnson are expected to be key contributors to the Bluejays offense and to continue their success from last year. 

Hooker feels the pressure of losing Rhode and Thomas going into this season, but he is confident in his ability to lead the team as a senior and as one of the captains.

“Going into this season I just knew everything would be on me as I have been a part of the success Elmhurst has had from 2019 to now,” Hooker said.

He continued, “I learned so much about the game from watching and playing alongside great players like those two and others and being able to show the knowledge I absorbed from them has been the biggest thing for me.”

Hooker managed to score 21 points throughout the game, including two 3-pointers.

Fellow captain Johnson was also a leader for the game against Transylvania with 27 points and 5 three pointers.

Some of the newcomers helped Hooker and Thomas contribute to the board. 

Junior John Ittounas is a transfer from Triton College; he started for the Bluejays as a guard against the Pioneers and played as if he had been part of the team for years.

Another new face to the Bluejay court is forward Anthony Scales, who transferred  from Lake Land College. Ittounas and Scales scored a total of 21 points combined.

Along with all the offensive threats the Bluejays have this season, the defense looks to be held down by the 6’6 senior, Jonathan Zapinski. 

Zapinski had three blocks and 12 rebounds and played a physical brand of defense that made opposing teams fear coming into the paint.

Despite a very dominant and fast-paced first half, the Bluejays left the court at halftime only leading by one, with a score of 41-40.

Head coach John Baines’ halftime speech had to have been a good one. The Bluejays jumped to a 15-point lead halfway through the second quarter, and did not let Transylvania continue the back-and-forth from the first quarter.

The Bluejays sent Transylvania on a long bus ride home with a final score of 97-68.

The Bluejays shut down some doubters after that first game, but there is still a lot more for this team to do as the season progresses to get out of the national runner-up team’s shadow.