PIQUA, Ohio — On a chilly Saturday morning in October, the Centerville Elks basketball team is growing closer together through an annual tradition called "The Chop." 

The Elks are working toward that goal by carrying on the tradition of “The Chop” where each player takes down a dead tree. 

“Here we set our main goal for the year and this year it’s to be relentless,” senior forward Rich Rolf said. 

Head Coach Brook Cupps started "The Chop" nearly a decade ago.

He said it’s a good metaphor for his team to learn while chasing excellence. 

“The way you get close to it, you just keep working day after day, after day,” Brook Cupps said. “The persistence is what wins out. The same thing here, you might not be a big strong guy, you might not even know how to chop down a tree. But if you keep swinging, you’re eventually going to chop it down.” 

Star guard Gabe Cubbs agrees that it’s all about being relentless. 

“You’re not going to see an impact after the first 10 swings,” Gabe Cupps said. “You just gotta keep chopping, keep going. It’s going to be adversity. There’s going to be times where you don’t think you’re getting anywhere. But you just gotta keep pushing through it and eventually the tree is going to fall.” 

"The Chop" is part of a weekend retreat where the team gets the chance to bond by playing paintball, capture the flag,and other sports. 

“This whole retreat has helped us come closer with each other. A lot of good memories,” Centerville junior Matthew Wilkins said.  

The season is less than two months away, but Coach Cupps knows his guys will be ready for opening night because he’s pushing them to get out of their comfort zones. 

“That idea, of just kind of, on the other side of comfort is where a lot of the good stuff is,” Brook Cupps said. “That’s our goal. I have no idea if we’re going to defend the state championship or not. We’re going to try to be the best team that we can and see where that takes us.”