After competing in two state finals in 1970 and 1974, and falling short in both, the 2022 Hand boys’ basketball team brought home the Division III State Championship win on March 19, 2022 against Kolbe Cathedral, 56-39, at Mohegan Sun Arena.

With a varsity team of five seniors, four juniors, four sophomores and one freshman, the team finished the season with a record of 23-4, an historic run for the Tigers. Head Coach Jimmy Economopolous knew this was a special team with an exciting season ahead after the DHHS team was very competitive in both the Summer and Fall League seasons.

“At the start of last year I knew we had a very good team that could compete for a championship,” said Coach Eco. “I remember specifically telling someone close to me that I think we may have the best team in school history. They quickly told me I should keep that to myself, and definitely don’t tell the boys! But you never know what can happen throughout a long basketball season. But as the season went along it was easy to tell that our group was as special as I had hoped. They allowed me to push them and hold them to a championship standard. They bought into everything the coaching staff was giving them, and most importantly, they became a close knit group that celebrated each other’s successes.”

Tri-Captain Trey Adams, now a freshman at Syracuse, added,”Before the winter season started, we had been playing well together in both summer and fall leagues. Compared to prior years, we were very successful in both. We knew if we pushed each other throughout the season, we would have a good shot at making DHHS history.” Morgan Veth, another Tri-Captain, now a freshman at Westmont in CA, said on the win: “It felt surreal. Winning a state championship was our goal from day one, and it was a dream come true. It meant a lot to us as a team. We truly became a family and to accomplish that together, with everyone contributing, meant it was a true team effort.”

On Friday, Dec. 23 at 6:30 p.m., in the Polson Middle School gym, Daniel Hand High School will be officially celebrating the 2022 State Championship victory by rewarding the players and coaches with their State Championship Rings. On this day, all basketball teams (girls and boys) will be playing games. To generate excitement for all the games and the ceremony, Athletic Director Christopher Farrell and DHHS Leadership decided to also hold its in-school pep rally that day.

Information courtesy of Kirsten Adams