The boys’ varsity basketball team tipped off the season in November and have put up an 11-2 record through Dec. 8. The Broncos compete in 5A Region 1 District 8. District play begins Dec. 21 against Timberview.
“We have probably the toughest district in the state,” Coach Cornelius Mitchell said. “We’ve had a team at the state tournament every year. Once we get to the playoffs, we don’t lose playoff games except to people in our own district.”
Team chemistry contributes to the success of the team. The coaches organized competitive practices allowing the guys to push each other every day and grow closer as a unit.
“Our team collectively is getting better because of the energy they put into practice,” Mitchell said. “There’s been a whole lot of growth in terms of some of our guys who have had to step up, owning some new roles that they didn’t have last year.”
Junior, and four-star recruit, Isaiah Manning leads the team. Manning and the team won the Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic, and Manning won tournament MVP. Although awarded with First-Team All-District honors last year, Manning continues to strive for improvement.
“As a player, I’ve tried to increase my activity on the ball, dribbling more, being more of a playmaker for the team, and then obviously I’ve been putting up more shots, rebounding more and just increasing my overall productivity,” Manning said. “As a leader, I’ve had to step up in terms of making sure that everyone’s connected and that we have the same goal so that way we can work together to win.”
The team will play through the middle of February and make a playoff push after. The coaches and players are thrilled to see what’s to come.
“[Early success] lets us know that we have a high ceiling, but also that we just need to stay grounded,” Manning said. “We have to focus up and not let it get to our head so that we continue to be successful.”
