After a 10-4 district record, the boys’ basketball season ended with a loss against Plano West 57-90 after the first playoff game.
“Although we had the skill and the talent and the tools to win, we failed to do things we needed to do,” senior Nylan Yancy said.
Plano West is currently ranked eighth in the state and was the first team the boys, who are ranked 159th in the state, competed against in the first round of the playoffs.
“They just played better than us,” senior Paul Thorsen said.
Despite a challenging schedule, the team beat the defending district champions Berkner and secured a playoff spot.
“We didn’t play as well as we wanted in our Bi-District playoff game to Plano West,” basketball coach Justin Reese said. “I think our guys who are returning next year will use this as fuel to get even better.”
Junior Ben Nakwaasah, a potential key player next year,has drawn upon the leadership of upperclassmen and hopes to carry it into next season.
“The seniors lead us with experience, which is part of why we were successful,” Nakwaasah said.
The team has made consecutive playoff appearances and players said they hope to go further next year. Despite the early end, Reese said the team has had many memorable moments.
“I think all our program will remember the Berkner game,” Reese said. “We beat the number 11 state ranked Berkner 84-81 in triple overtime. It was a really exciting night for our team and our school. Our kids learned that we can beat anybody in the state when we play our best basketball.”
The boys have faced many adversities this season but have continued to set high standards for next year, and said they plan to play hard no matter who they face.
“Last year, our student athletes raised the bar with how hard they play, how coachable they are, and how unified they are,” Reese said. “Our team last year continued that culture this year and expected to play the right way every time they stepped on the court. We had a really tough schedule and lost some games early on but never lost our confidence.”
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