Hanover Central seniors Luke Ondo and Gage Rodriguez joke with each other with a certain ease.
Even about not being friends. Even going so far as to say they don’t even like each other.
But that’s just the kind of bond Ondo and Rodriguez have built since Ondo transferred to Hanover Central in the fall of his sophomore year.
“Originally I didn’t talk to him at all,” Rodriguez said with a grin. “I didn’t talk to him for maybe, like, two to three weeks.”
Ondo recalled that period of silence being even longer.
“It was a month or two,” Ondo said. “They just thought I was some random kid.”
Hanover Central coach Brad Stangel shed some light on the truth about Ondo, a 6-foot-3 forward, and Rodriguez, a 6-2 guard.
“Those two guys have been buddies since a couple of years ago when Luke got here,” Stangel said. “They’ve both really worked hard to get to where they are. They both play sort of the same role at different positions. They just show up and do everything for us.
“They do the dirty work — the rebounds, the defense, the assists. Sometimes it gets overlooked. … They do all of the dirty work and do a good job of it.”
Ondo was averaging 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Wildcats (3-2) before their last-second loss to LaPorte on Saturday. He’s playing more in the post than he did in past seasons.
“I’m getting used to that, but I’m ready for anything,” Ondo said. “I feel like I can play any position he puts me in.”
Ondo averaged 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds last season. He came off the bench, earned a starting spot for a stretch, got benched and then started again in sectionals.
“That definitely was a humbling experience,” Ondo said. “But it definitely helped me a lot to know I needed to play harder and make sure I’m always doing what I need to do.”
Rodriguez believes Ondo learned those lessons.
“Luke has been ready to play,” Rodriguez said. “He has a good left hand. His shot’s a lot better this year, and he’s really improved his post scoring with his left hook. And he’s also played a lot better defense.”
Indeed, Ondo has made his biggest strides on the defensive end. He landed in the Region after his father transferred jobs. He was a varsity reserve as a freshman in Alabama and then played on Hanover Central’s junior varsity team as a sophomore.
“It definitely was a big difference,” Ondo said. “I wasn’t used to all the defensive principles. We played more loose in Alabama. I came here and had to get used to all of that, playing this type of ball in Indiana. Basketball is way better here.”
Ondo has adapted well over the years.
“He just kept progressing,” Stangel said. “This year, he’s really asserted himself into a starting role, averaging double figures. It’s been great to see.”
Rodriguez started at point guard last season. He began this season off the ball but shifted back to the point after senior Max Wiancek suffered an ankle injury. Rodriguez was averaging 2.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
“I’m better this year,” he said. “My first year, I needed some experience. But now I understand how the varsity level is, what it takes to perform well. You have to play defense really well at all points of the game. Offensively, you can’t slip up.”
Rodriguez has managed to minimize mistakes.
“Gage has stepped up a lot this year,” Ondo said. “He’s a great leader of our team. There will be points in practice where we’re just going in a straight line and not getting any better, and he’ll get us in the huddle, yell at us and make sure we’re doing the right thing. He gets us back on track to what we need to be doing.
“Basketball-wise, his shot’s really good, man. This year especially, he’s definitely improved his ballhandling a lot. I don’t think he has more than two turnovers this year. He’s just been playing really well out there.”
Stangel also highlighted Rodriguez’s status on the team.
“Gage is a captain, has really grown into this leadership role,” Stangel said. “He’s one of our most athletic kids. He’s a hard worker. I’m pretty proud of him for how he’s developed.”
Ondo is planning to join either the Air Force or the Coast Guard, and Rodriguez is planning to study marketing in college.
As two of seven seniors for the Wildcats, they expressed their desire to win the team’s first sectional title since the 2019-20 season.
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching them,” Stangel said.