2025 Winter Season Recap: Coach Johnny Brown Reflects on Holton High School Boys Basketball Season
In his role as head coach of the Holton High School varsity boys basketball team, Coach Johnny Brown didn’t shy away from the challenges that came with the 2025 season. Leading a team determined to shake off a difficult past, Brown approached the year with a clear mission: establish consistency, build unity, and begin the long but necessary work of changing the culture of Holton basketball.
This past season wasn’t defined by championship runs or highlight reels—but by grit, accountability, and a hunger to rewrite a narrative. It was a year of lessons, growth, and a commitment to the process, and for Coach Brown, it’s just the beginning.
Reliable Leaders: Keon McMillan and Peyton Russell Set the Tone
When asked about key contributors, Coach Brown was quick to name Keon McMillan and Peyton Russell as the players who showed up with consistency and competitive spirit.
“These two would come to play every night,” Brown noted. “They brought tenacity on both offense and defense.”
McMillan and Russell anchored a team that often struggled with cohesion but never lacked hustle. Their relentless energy provided a blueprint for what Coach Brown wants from every player on the roster going forward. These two set the tone with their play and professionalism, giving Holton a competitive edge, even in tough losses.
Season Highlights and Hurdles
The 2025 season had its ups and downs—some goals were achieved, and others became points of reflection. Coach Brown highlighted that the team began to commit to playing hard for a full four quarters, which was no small achievement for a group trying to rebuild from within.
“One highlight was trusting the process and getting and making shots,” he said.
However, the season also exposed deeper issues, particularly around team chemistry. Internal arguments and a lack of unity were recurring obstacles.
“The bad part? We’ve got to learn to play together and stop with the arguments,” Brown said frankly.
This honesty reflects the team’s reality. While talent was present, cohesion wasn’t. Brown’s challenge—and opportunity—moving forward is to build a stronger team identity rooted in trust, communication, and shared effort.
Development and Growth: Stepping Into Bigger Roles
A bright spot in the season was the growth of several key players beyond McMillan and Russell. Justin Dean and Caleb Berghuis joined that core group of emerging leaders, expanding their responsibilities and impact as the season wore on.
“These players really started growing into their roles,” said Brown. “They stepped up.”
This development speaks to the potential within the program. With players beginning to embrace more responsibility and show flashes of leadership, the building blocks for future success are clearly in place.
Responding to Adversity: A Culture Shift in Progress
Holton’s response to adversity this season revealed just how much work remains.
“We responded really negatively,” Brown admitted. “It’s something I’m trying to change. It’s been this way for years.”
That transparency speaks volumes about the deep-seated habits the current coaching staff is working to break. When faced with injuries, tough losses, or pressure situations, the team’s first instinct has historically been to turn inward and disengage rather than rally together.
Recognizing this pattern is the first step. Changing it is the mission, and Coach Brown is ready to do the work.
Senior Class: A Transitional Chapter
With only limited contributions from this year’s senior class, Coach Brown acknowledged that their impact on the team’s overall dynamic was muted.
“They were not really productive or supportive,” he said, pointing to a broader issue of instability due to “coaches that were one and done.”
That lack of continuity in leadership has clearly left its mark on the program, contributing to a culture where players have grown used to instability. Coach Brown’s ongoing presence and long-term vision provide a much-needed change in direction. His goal is not only to coach better basketball, but to provide consistent mentorship and structure.
Changing the Narrative
Looking ahead, there’s genuine excitement brewing at Holton. The team’s younger players are motivated to shed the identity of a losing program and begin writing a new story—one defined by effort, unity, and belief.
“Everyone is looking to change the narrative of losing,” said Brown. “That’s what excites me most about our returning players.”
There’s power in collective buy-in. With many of the team’s key contributors returning—and already showing improvement in individual roles—Holton is poised to take the next step. The hunger to prove themselves is evident, and the pieces are starting to come together.
Offseason Plans: Building Through Camps and Culture
To accelerate growth and address the chemistry issues, Coach Brown has already laid out a clear offseason plan. Basketball camps are in progress, and the team is preparing to attend several team camps together. These opportunities will help build not only skills, but also the togetherness that was lacking during the season.
“We’ve started basketball camps and will be attending team camps to help improve togetherness,” Brown explained.
These experiences—playing, practicing, and learning together—are essential to building trust and refining communication on and off the court. For a team trying to forge a new identity, that kind of time spent together in the offseason could prove transformative.
Looking Forward: A Program in Progress
The 2025 Holton varsity boys basketball season was not about wins and banners. It was about culture, accountability, and growth. It was about discovering who was ready to lead and recognizing what needed to change.
Coach Johnny Brown is not making excuses or painting a rosy picture. He’s providing a realistic, honest look at a program in the early stages of a rebuild—and his commitment to that rebuild is unwavering.
From foundational leaders like McMillan and Russell to developing talents like Dean and Berghuis, the team now has a core it can believe in. And with offseason plans focused on building cohesion, Holton basketball may finally be on the road to something more lasting: pride, purpose, and progress.
The journey to turn things around won’t happen overnight. But with a coach who believes in “trusting the process” and a group of players ready to change the narrative, Holton is heading in the right direction—together.
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