Boys basketball advances into playoffs

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Brantley Bristow

Junior Dayne Douglass goes up for a rebound against Hereford Jan. 29.

The Eagles will play Lubbock Cooper 6:00 p.m. Feb. 23 at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview.

The boys’ basketball team ended their district season Feb. 16 following a loss against Hereford. They posted a 5-5 record and took the number 3 seed in district, advancing their way into playoffs.

Senior Reese Patterson said that the team competed and mixed well with their new coach, Travis Schulte, throughout the season and expects to play well in the playoffs.

“I feel like we will get a gold ball or two,” Patterson said. “It’s nice having this week off though. We will use it to rest and get ready for the next game.”

When we think of Tatum, we want to get the win and make her happy because we know she cheers us on.

— Wes Crenshaw

Spending time together off the court has brought the team closer and solved some team issues junior Dayne Douglass said.

“We just kind of bonded and got to know each other a whole lot more, which was cool,” Douglass said. “We’d been focused on the game so much we never hung out after the game. It helped a lot.”

Coach Schulte’s daughter, Tatum, was diagnosed with cancer in the fall. Players said her battle with cancer has motivated the team to play better.

“It’s been a struggle for us to focus sometimes to keep our mind on the game,” Crenshaw said. “But when we think of Tatum, we want to get the win and make her happy because we know she cheers us on. We give our fullest effort, our hard work and give our best to get the win and pray for him and his family. That’s all we can do for him.”