West Central boys basketball has built a competitive foundation with underclassmen Brady Bishop, Brendan Grindstaff and coach Brad Odom.
FRANCESVILLE ― West Central boys basketball coach Brad Odom took his team inside the locker room following his team's 64-61 overtime loss to Winamac Friday, Jan. 30, and asked them to listen.
Listen to the cheering that was still heard in the arena even as the noise calmed a few decibels.
There was life inside West Central that hadn't been there when Odom first took the team over in 2023-24. Prior to his arrival, the program had 13 consecutive losing seasons before a 17-8 finish in 2024-25.
"I told them, 'Look at what you created,'" Odom said. "We've been working with these kids since they were in the seventh and eighth grade. We are creating a culture everyone can be proud of."
Winamac had defeated West Central for the 15th consecutive time, but nothing came easy for the second straight season.
Sophomore guard and West Central single game 3-point record holder Brady Bishop scored 22 points, as did his junior running mate Brendan Grindstaff.
"Sometimes you stub your toe on occasion on the road to success," Odom said. "That's part of what's required in order to grow as a group. We are proud of these guys, and they'll understand that its these kinds of games that build character in the long run."
Bishop has potential to become one of the top scorers in the Lafayette area along with Grindstaff.
Grindstaff carries an exceptional handle while Bishop has natural agility and ball handling that could land him college offers someday.
But Odom admits that his team is still young and needs more close games like the ones played against Winamac where the Tomahawk Trophy was at stake.
The beat of screaming crowds was felt and Francesville felt like the center of Hoosier Hysteria for the night.
"We just, as a team, need to get better at thriving in these moments," Bishop said. "And we know that comes with time and experience. But we're a confident group and we'll get there. Sucks we lost, but we're growing."
Odom appears to be the man that's a fit for this current group of players at West Central trying to beat its Pulaski County rival. This time though, it was Winamac claiming victory with guard Jaybin Hines sinking two free throws with 6.1 in OT.
West Central led 45-38 with 2:32 in the third quarter. While the program didn't get the desired result, there's respect in being a relevant program for the first time in almost two decades.
Beating its rival will have to wait another year.
"We know we have so much to and learn from," Grindstaff said. "We are a confident group now."
And for West Central (11-1), the trajectory and goal of winning the Midwestern Conference hasn't changed. West Central will likely still be ranked after entering as the No. 4 ranked program in 1A by the USA Today Network.
"Our kids never think they're down," Odom said.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: West Central boys basketball sees positives despite loss to Winamac
Category: General Sports
