This season hopes are definitely high. Since the start of the season, LP boy’s basketball has gone 21-3, undefeated in the DuKane conference. Which leaves many Lancers fans wondering, how far can the Lancers go, and can Lake Park take home a state championship this season?
“My Main goal as a senior this season is to win a state championship. It has never been done which makes me even more determined to do it,” said point guard Camden Cerese (LP ‘24).
The Lancers ended the first half of their season in the three day Pekin Holiday Tournament at East Peoria High School. showin off their skills and taking victories against Hersey, Pekin, and Morton high schools but ending their run against a tough Mt. Carmel in the final round. Cerese led the tournament with 102 total points, and continues to lead the team to what they hope is a historic finish.
Camden started playing basketball around the age of 6 because of his love for watching the NBA and being inspired by players like Lebron James. When Camden first joined the LP basketball team Head Coach Mr. Billy Pitcher knew he would be the right fit.
“I almost put him on varsity as a freshman. Skilled, athletic, plays super hard, and is physical. I have been hard on him, critiqued him, pushed him, and he has answered every challenge beyond expectations,” Coach Pitcher said.
Since his time at LP, Camden has been named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s all-state team, broke Lake Park’s all-time single season scoring record, as well as the free throw record in a game of 14/14, scored 40 points in a game, and moving into 2nd place on LP’s scoring record with 1,283 points, passing Andy Mack (LP ‘24). Most recently, Camden became the 8th Lancer in history to be part of the 1,000th point club,
“In that moment, I felt joy and relief. I remember right after I made it I looked up to my parents in the crowd as they were the loudest cheering people in the building,” Camden said.
Camden’s motivation is one of the reasons for his success. “I always wanted to be a role model to the people that look up to me, and to show you can do anything you put your mind to,” Cerese said.
His accomplishments have made him an all-star figure within the LP basketball program but also a role model for future Lancers. His advice to those players is to “Just work extremely hard and perfect your craft everyday. It takes early mornings and late nights to be successful and to reach your goals that you want.” Camden hopes to advance playing basketball in college and pursue his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.
He along with other class of ‘24 players Matthew Geraci, Michael Walsh, Pavle Magazin, Jeremy Zakic, Dennasio LaGioia, and Thomas Rochford, will be missed for the impact and time they have dedicated to LP basketball.
“They have a great balance of being super competitive, but also knowing when to be joking around and having a lot fun,” said Coach Pitcher.
The Lancers started off the second half of the season with a big win against Conant (51-30) and have gone undefeated so far in 2024 (as of this print). Most especially the huge win against Geneva (53-18) where LP reached 900 program victories since their very first win in 1957 against Round Lake. For the rest of the season, LP’s main goals are to play the best in playoffs, win conference, sectionals and go to state. In order for this to happen the team plans on “Reducing turnovers, practicing against pressure & playing through if refs don’t call fouls,” Coach Pitcher said.
