Basketball Bonds Culver Academy's Mark and Trey Galloway
Culver, Ind. — The campus of Culver Academy on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee is still.
The students have all been sent home. Classes suspended indefinitely, to try and combat the spread of the coronavirus.
The gymnasium is empty, locked up, on a day where it might very well have been the busiest place on campus.
"As the coach you get the shakes. You feel like you should be in the gym getting ready for the next game." said CMA boys basketball head coach Mark Galloway, "You want to be getting ready for Northridge, but its probably not gonna happen.
The IHSAA boys basketball state tournament was suspended last Friday, less than 24 hours before Culver Academy was set to play Northridge in the regional.
"The win against South Bend Adams was an amazing sectional game in which we won by one point." said Galloway, "We were tested, battle tested and ready for the regional. We knew Northridge was a good team and anything could happen in the tournament, but to not even have that opportunity. It doesn't sit well. "
Culver Academy has one of the best basketball programs in the state. The Eagles won the 3A state championship in 2018 and finished as the 3A state runners up in 2019. Led by Mr. basketball candidate Trey Galloway the Eagles were once again soaring in 2020.
"It sucks not being able to go out there and compete with the guys I love." said the younger Galloway, "We were focused all week. We wanted to keep winning, keep cutting down the nets. It's heartbreaking to not be able to continue."
For Mark Galloway, a suspended postseason is only half the story. He didn't know it at the time, but when Culver Academy beat South Bend Adams in the Sectional Championship game at LaPorte High School last Saturday, Galloway may have also coached his son for the final time.
"Just seeing Trey grow into a basketball player, I looked forward to that for so long and to have it taken away in such an unorthodox way is challenging." said Galloway, "It goes without saying that all those seniors have a special place in my heart and I don't want it to end for any of them."
But now more than ever, Mark surely doesn't want the special bond he has with his son on the court to truly be over.
"I'll probably miss the facial expressions he makes in good times and bad times. He knows what I'll say but lets me finish anyway." said Galloway, flanked by his son, "Even though he's one of my players, he's also my son. I try to keep the praise to barking at him ratio at three to one. It's been fun coaching him, but I'm going to miss those facial expressions."
As for Trey, the kid who's been at nearly every practice over his dad's decades long coaching career. The kid who donned the number 32, same as his father when he played his college ball at Bethel in Mishawaka. Trey is going to miss the trust built on the court.
"We share ideas all the time. We built that relationship both on and off the court."
The coach/player relationship between the two may be ending, sooner than both would have liked, but basketball will continue to forge a bond between this father and son.
Trey will play his college basketball at Indiana University, and Mark is already looking forward to making many trips to Bloomington. After all, he's seen nearly every game his son has every played, and he's not about to stop now.
"Watching him play will be enjoyable. There will surely be some nervous energy, wanting him to do well, but it's going to be fun watching him grow and mature and get better." said Galloway, "I'm just along for the ride like any other dad and I'm really going to try and enjoy it."
