With a solid defense and a supporting crowd, the Bronco basketball team is 7-8 this season.
Senior Chris Smith has been the team leader in scoring all season, but the team has not been as statistically dominant as past years in defense. However, defense has not been a problem for the Broncos to win – beating teams or coming up short by a of couple points. Coach Marchie Murdock’s idea of a good game starts with a well-rounded defensive game and executing opportunities by scoring when possible. Murdock pushes his players to be the best in the state and live up to what has happened in the past.
“We’ve always been good on defense,” Murdock said. “In the six years before, we led the whole metroplex.”
Losing to Ennis by one point didn’t discourage the team. Murdock said losing only acted as a motive for working harder.
“We’re really disappointed [with the result of the Ennis game],” coach Marchie Murdock said. “We missed 18 free throws.”
To the players the season is nowhere near over. Their record of 7-8 serves as a motivator to make changes in the school record book. Coach Murdock and his players have faith they will prevail and do what the school knows they can do: make a run toward the championship.
“The season is not over,” Murdock said. “We still have a chance.”
According to Smith, every player on the team is just as important as the next. The team runs passing drills to share the ball and get everyone involved. Players care more about their team than their own stats and accomplishments. The Broncos focus on the team as a whole.
“We don’t really have a select person [that carries the team],” Smith said. “We play as a team.”
Despite a losing record, the team still believes their playoff hopes are alive and achievable. By playing top teams like Seguin, Summit and Lake Ridge in the last six out of 10 games, the Broncos have fallen short, but continue to stay positive.
“We’ll be fine,” Smith said. “We’ll fight through it and make it to the playoffs.”
