After a disappointing start to the season, the Jones boys basketball team started 2026 with a bang, going seven and one in the month of January and undefeated in their conference games. 

This turnaround is much needed for the Eagles, who at one point in the season found themselves two games below .500 and potentially facing demotion to a lower conference. 

Players say that a four point loss to conference rival Schurz in December provided a major wakeup call to the team. “It was a conference game that we lost, and then we realized — we had a team talk — that we’ve got to win every other game in our conference now if we want any chance of being promoted next season,” said Judah Given ‘27. “I think it definitely brought on a culture of ‘win at all costs.’” 

Since that loss last month, they’ve won seven games, six of which were by double digit margins. Despite a disappointing loss to LP, the team said they displayed a pattern of consistency that players hope to replicate going forward. “We’ve won games we’re supposed to win,” said Given. “Earlier in the season, we won some games we weren’t supposed to win, but then we lost some games we were supposed to win. We weren’t really winning 50/50 games. But now we’ve turned it around, and we’ve just been beating teams by a lot.” 

This shift in team culture, players said, was a central role in their improved performance. “I think, like one of my coaches said, we’ve been playing really well as a team. We’ve become less selfish on both ends of the court,” said Jonah Rab ‘27. “Everyone started buying in — whether you were playing or not — just doing your part and helping the team any way you can. Everyone started doing that, and I think that’s what’s leading to our success”

Despite losing a difficult game against Lincoln Park to start their February, their remarkable performance in January means that they are still 13-9, a full six games ahead of where they were at the beginning of winter break. 

“Although it was a tough loss, I’m still proud of the team for how far we’ve come,” said Rab. “We’ve got five games left in the season, and we’re gonna keep playing at our highest level for the rest of the year.”