At a current record of [23-6], the boys’ basketball team looks to further improve this season. With new head coach Brian Miller, this season has been significantly better compared to last year according to assistant coach Jonathan Mosby. Miller continues to push basketball players to their full potential. The team’s next game is on Friday, Feb. 1 against Hebron at an away game.

“Last season was a year of learning,” Mosby said. “We have a better shot at making playoffs [this year] so it’s been a really good season under our first year [with] Coach Miller.”

To improve, the team has applied lessons from last year to this season by adding new principles. They are currently focusing on transitions from offense to defense and new terminology.

“Our offensive systems have changed,” Mosby said. “We’ve got some different terminology. It’s been a good change all around. Some different personnel, some different packages we’ve installed and it’s been good for us.”

One of the major tasks the team has to develop is learning how to adapt play styles effectively. They believe if they speed up the pace and tempo of games, it will provide them opportunities to be successful.

“[We have to do a better job at] defense,” senior guard Javonte Costner said. “We [also have to do] a better job at talking, getting back, transition, offense and transition to defense.”

When it comes to working together and being friendly to their rivals, the team struggles. Senior center Vincent Taylor has an individual goal of improving in these areas.

“[I have to] fix my attitude,” Taylor said. “I [become] mad easily. [I hope to help] my teammates out [and help] the team.”

With the new positions of team members, the group will play schools they’ve never competed against before. Apart from gaining new competition, the team has also lost schools they’ve been playing with for years.

“We lost Euless Trinity High School [and] L.D. Bell but we’ve picked up some of the Irving schools [like] MacArthur and Nimitz and Irving High [School],” Mosby said.

The team is at a current winning streak of six games, most recently winning against Nimitz [59-56] on Tuesday, Jan 29. Coppell was one of the biggest threats due to their competitive playstyle.

“Coppell has been a tough one,” Mosby said. “Right now they’re leading in district and we lost to them by one early on in the season, so that’s [a school] we have to really pick a game up from it.”

The team hopes to continue its winning streak and eventually have success place them into playoffs and state. The team is in the middle of a playoff run and about to start its second half of district. Currently, they’re in second place for district; the top four teams will move on to regionals.

“We’re hoping for really good things to happen this season,” Mosby said. “It’s been a good change all the way around.”