The boys’ basketball team was on a run until it ran into to eventual state champion Lancaster, losing 61-52 in the regional semifinal of the Region 2 5A UIL Basketball tournament.

The team was up at half 29-26, but the Tigers used their ability to hit free throws and defense to take the lead and win the game.

“The best teams were in Region 2,” head coach Marcus Eckert said. “I thought it was a really good game. I thought our boys executed the gameplan to a tee, and had the lead for most of the game. It really turned in the 3rd quarter, when we got in a little foul trouble, and had to go offense-defense with a couple of key players. Also, a few really bad calls went in Lancaster’s favor, and that point, Lancaster did what they do. They’ve been there before, they weren’t rattled or nervous and took over the game. All credit to them.”

The team finished the year with a 30-6 record and a 4th round exit, both breaking previous school records. 3 of those 6 losses came against eventual state champions Lancaster and DeSoto.

“It overall was the most fun season of my life,” senior Cameron Kurak said. “We had lots of success, despite the ending not turning out the way we wanted.”

Four players from this current team will return for next year including key sophomores Reggie Chaney, who was recently named the number one recruit by Texashoops.com, and Zac Watson, who was ranked 51 in the same list.  

“I’ve already started working on stuff we’re going to do for the following year,” Eckert said. “We’ve got a great nucleus coming back, with Reggie [Chaney], Zac [Watson], Jadyn [Bennett], and Nate [Autrey]. We got some young underclassmen that are hungry and work really hard, and I’m confident they will step up and fill some of those roles. I feel like we’re going to be really good.”