The Farmer boys basketball team started district play on Tuesday, Dec. 17 with a loss to Flower Mound 50-49. The team continues its district journey with a 6-10 record due to four games being forfeited. The Farmers also will have to adjust to new district opponents. 

The Farmers current record doesn’t reflect the team’s strength. The team forfeited four games: Lincoln, Plano East, Cedar Hill and Frisco Lone Star due to an error on the Previous Athletic Participation Form for an athlete who transferred to the program. Head coach Toby Martin and assistant coach Xavious Booker have been on administrative leave. Coaches Jaden Wright and Drew Smith have assumed those responsibilities.

With the forfeited games and a competitive district schedule, the team looks to bounce back from a rough start to the season. The district schedule served as a judging point for the Farmers. 

“Personally, the Coppell matchup is always one that I circle, being from Coppell,” Smith said. “But always when you get a chance to play Marcus, Flower Mound, Hebron and other  [LISD] schools, those are intense matchups. Then adding three new teams as well as Guyer, Braswell and Little Elm. It will be interesting to see what they have.”

Notable district games include 14-4 Denton Guyer, 15-7 Denton Braswell, 12-4 Marcus and 12-5 Little Elm.

“Braswell just came into our district,” junior guard and forward Jason Lester said. “We’ve been hearing a lot of trash talk, but we have to play them and try to get the win.” 

The team has to be prepared to face a tough district, due to all seven district opponents coming in at a .500 or above record. 

“We’re trying to get on the same page as the team,” senior guard Max Hindman said. “Based on everything that’s happened, this year we’re just trying to stay focused and stay together.”

A great deal is riding on these district outcomes.

“We just stay locked in as a team,” Lester said. “Just trust our coaches [and] trust the game plan they have for us.”