Chemistry is a delicate yet extremely powerful thing. When achieved, it can make a good team a great team. In the case of the North Forrest Eagles, it can make a trip to Jackson reality and not just a dream.
After a 60-42 beatdown of Loyd Star on Thursday, the Eagles are now 18-3. They surpassed last season’s win total of 12 games weeks ago, and they’re not looking back. Instead, their focus is forward and always on the next challenge. They’re banking on that mentality in the pursuit of their first playoff win in many years and their first trip to the “Big House” in over a decade.
Third-year coach Quenton Loving believes this team has the makeup to check both of those boxes in the coming weeks. It’s a tight-knit group that enjoys playing with one another, and they don’t wanna stop anytime soon.
“I think we’re right there, but we’ll keep working,” he said. “We got a tough district. Our district prepares us for playoff battles. I really think we can be successful down the stretch.”
That aforementioned chemistry is key. Their unselfishness doesn’t hurt, either. In the win over Loyd Star, five players (Nick Moore, Xzavier Barnes, Joe Holloway, Tre Williams and Brian Swanson) scored in double figures.
“The ball always moves,” Loving said. “When we get the ball moving like that and they buy in to the defensive end of the court, it’s just a wonderful thing.”
Three of those five help make up a stellar senior class that’s ultra motivated to get the program back to Jackson, according to Loving.
“They’re hungry to get there,” he said. “The seniors don’t want their season to end. They’ve worked so hard, and they’re doing whatever they possibly can to keep it going.”
As their record suggests, they’ve had very few slip-ups this year. In November, they played 5A Hattiesburg tough for three quarters before suffering their first defeat of the season. In December, they dropped a two-point contest against 4A Northeast Jones. And a few weeks back, they blew a 16-point lead to Region 8-2A foe Collins. Unlike their other losses, the Eagles have a chance to avenge the latter soon.
A critical rematch with huge district ramifications awaits next week, as Collins plays host to North Forrest on Tuesday. If the Eagles beat Richton Friday, the matchup with the Tigers will be for first place in the district standings. Loving says his players have thought about the rematch since the first game, but that they’re not prepared to look past Richton. It all goes back to their one game at a time mindset.
“Before we get to Tuesday, we gotta take care of Richton Friday night,” Loving said. “We have to.”
