For the Elk Grove boys basketball team, it’s all about communication.
Being able to flow through the court and make clean passes comes down to teamwork, which is helpful when many of the Grens have been playing together for years.
Nate Govert and Devin Wildi are two members of the Grenadiers squad that have been teammates since elementary school.
“When I was young, five or six, my parents signed me up for a bunch of sports, and basketball was one of the sports they signed me up for, and I just kept playing,” Govert said.
Govert, who is also on the football team, says he has high goals for this year. As a team, he wants the Grens to finish above .500, and to win some key conference games.
He also wants teamwork to form the foundation for the underclassmen.
“The biggest thing is just showing up to everything,” Govert said. “The guys that do good are ones that don’t miss stuff.”
Wildi, has been playing basketball for 10 years. Before playing for the Elk Grove Grenadiers, Devin played for the Elk Grove Feeder team as well as the Grove Junior High Elks alongside Govert.
Devin’s favorite memory from playing basketball at Elk Grove was when the seniors won senior night against Hoffman Estates last year. Those victories don’t come without time and dedication, however.
“You have to work hard and put in hours,” Wildi said.
To start this season, the Elk Grove basketball team beat one of its biggest rivals, Maine West, thanks to 3-pointers from Roland Fouche and some key lay-ups from Amir Hussein. The team also clinched the win during a nail-biting game against Ridgewood, 49-48.
The Elk Grove Grenadiers will face the Prospect Knights at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22nd at Elk Grove.
