'Defense wins': How Jeremy Ingram is 'continuing the legacy' for Seventy-First basketball

The Seventy-First Falcons' are an all-around powerhouse when it comes to competing and breeding athletes, in multiple sports. With the football program falling just short of a NCHSAA 3A state title this past football season, the varsity basketball team is searching for a shot at a title of their own after coming off of a 26-3 season, and undefeated (15-0) in the Conference 22.

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So far, through the first 11 games, the Falcons' are 10-1, 4-0 United 8, including a Cumberland County Holiday Classic tournament championship in the Bernie Poole bracket, and currently on a nine-game win streak, orchestrated by head coach and former North Carolina Central star, Jeremy Ingram.

Jeremy Ingram's love for the game

Ingram knew that the coaching lifestyle was solidified for him after beginning his career as an assistant coach at Westover High School under George Stackhouse where they went 30-0 on the season, taking that as a sign to give back to the kids with his coaching and love for the game.

"I've played a lot of basketball, and I never went 30-0 until going there, so for me that was a sign that this is what I'm supposed to be doing," Ingram began. "Once I got the job here (Seventy-First),I knew that this was what I've been asking for so I dialed in immediately."

Building a brotherhood

Upon getting the job, Ingram was faced with an unusual 'circumstance' after being hired to a team that just came off of a state championship loss. Naturally, scholar-athletes who are taken as far as a championship game would rebel against a newly hired coach the following year — which a number of players did, especially by transferring to neighboring schools. But for the players who remained, it wasn't that hard for them to buy in to Ingram's system and adopt his winning ways.

"It wasn't much of an obstacle for me. I asked for them to believe in me and give me a chance—they did. Coming from a fragile situation, I was like a big brother to them and our love for the game brought us closer," Ingram said.

"I'll admit, at first I wasn't too fond of him because I was still upset about out last coach (Jones) leaving — but once I got to know him I saw how cool he was, and I got close with him," said Seventy-First guard Mylon Campbell.

Campbell and DeAndre Nance, both leaders for the Falcons', spoke about how their love for their coach grew over time from his love for basketball and belief in their capabilities.

"He instilled confidence in us. He knows that everybody on this team can be a starter and get a bucket of their own, and he sometimes gas us up, but humbles us at the same time," Nance said.

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Defense wins championships

The main focus for the Falcons this basketball season is gelling and forming "togetherness" in order to succeed. "Dialing in and locking in this season is the biggest obstacle for us. We graduated 10 seniors last year, so us doing that and knowing that we have everything we need right now to do what we need to do. But it won't work if we're not all together," Ingram said.

A key component to being the top team in the United 8 for Seventy-First is defense. And having Ingram as the head coach leads to a scrappy defensive team, after being a scrappy, selfish defender himself as an Eagle in Durham. In his college career, Ingram is 12th all-time in NCCU's history in steals (122).

"Defense is our number one thing, that's what wins championship" Ingram began. "And I know that from winning multiple championships on multiples levels of basketball — defense wins championships, because with good defense, your offense will come together and create groove on both ends of the floor."

Through 11 games thus far, Seventy-First is only allowing their opponents 49.8 total points per game, and 41 points per game in the first four conference matchups. "If we can't score, then we won't allow you to score either," the Hall of Famer said.

Getting back to the 'chip

The United 8 conference is waiting for Seventy-First to claim it for the third consecutive year, but getting over the playoff hump is just as extremely important for the Falcons, heading into the deeper portion of the season.

Last season, the Falcons' fell in the third round of the NCHSAA 3A East playoffs against Northern Nash 54-48, and held onto that loss the entire off-season to learn from it. "The only thing that we needed to do better was we needed to play our game and style of basketball no matter what. I can't dial back on my coaching because of the calls that referees are making, — I have to get used to that."

"I feel the pressure most definitely, but the pressure that I feel to get to a championship is all personal. I always set goals for myself to exceed expectations — that's what drives me," Ingram began. He then continued, "I'm a Hall of Famer, but I didn't win a championship at the professional level, which I hate, so I have to win one as a coach."

Love and passion for the sport, building a bond and gelling together to succeed, active defense, and the desire to make it to the 3A State Championship, are all constants to a winning formula to sustain a winning culture over the years for the Seventy-First Falcons' while on the right track through majority of the year, look forward to seeing your Falcons deep in the running.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Jeremy Ingram's winning formula for the 10-1 Seventy-First basketball