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Wildcats look hopeful as season begins
  
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By CARMEN COLUNGA
A year after falling just short of a fourth straight playoff appearance, the Splendora boys basketball team looks to start a new streak in 2009. But with just three seniors on the team, the Wildcats’ focus is to improve everyday in order rebuild the program.
“[Although] we are a fairly young team, this team has a lot of energy, a lot of hustle, where the coaching staff has been pleased with what we’ve seen over these past few weeks,” Wildcats head coach Jason Vela said. “We’ve been very pleased with the work ethic and intensity.”
The coaching staff at Splendora High School encourages their students to be multi-sports athletes. Even still, there were 20 athletes accounted for in Vela’s program, giving the coaching staff time to focus on building on their individual abilities.
“We want them to peak at the right time, so we don’t throw in a lot of offensive and defensive things in,” Vela said.
The team also played in a fall league at Northeast Christian Academy.
“A lot of these guys have had the ball in their hands and been in the weight room, trying to build strength for the season. We’ve ran a good off-season,” Vela said.
The Wildcats’ ultimate goal is to win a district championship.
“Our guys fully understand that’s a very difficult task when you have teams like Cleveland and Coldspring that are very talented, but we still think that, on any given night, we can play with some of those guys,” Vela said.
Last year’s district champion, Cleveland, is returning four or five underclassmen who played a major part in leading the team to an 11-1 season. An athletic Coldspring is a constant in the playoff discussion and Huffman recently moved down from a tough athletic 21-4A district, so they should be a team to reckon with.
There is an uncertainty when it comes to the rest of the district. Many teams have new coaches and are sure to bring new philosophies and outlooks to the district, making Splendora’s goal of a district championship seem far-fetched, but still possible with the right preparation.
Therefore, Vela has put his team in position to be successful in district by scheduling key match-ups including tough Class 4A teams like Caney Creek and Willis. The Wildcats will also face Big Sandy, which made a state final appearance last year on the Class A level.
“I think we’ve put together some teams that will be good competition for us during the pre-district schedule,” Vela said. “We’re not overly concerned about the record. Everybody wants good records, but we’re concerned about how we play and if we’re getting better every day.”
Vela and his coaching staff know the importance of competition, so have opted to forgo the selection of a starting lineup so early in the season. Instead, it is stressed that every position is open for any athlete.
“We’re going to start different people early on in the season. There are no guarantees. We’re going to look at people at different spots. We truly think that, if there’s competition at every spot, then you’re only going to work that much harder to make sure you’re the guy that’s the starter.”
The team constantly hears from the coaches how they each have a certain role to play and that they are part of something bigger than themselves: a family.
“Most of these guys are going to be together for the next few years,” said Vela, “so if we instill in them that idea of family this year, it could help us out in the long run.”
SPLENDORA BOYS BASKETBALL 2008-2009
Last season: 13-17 overall record, 5-7 district record (finished fourth in District 22-3A)
Players to watch:
Bryan Wade - One of the few seniors on the team, Wade will provide that vocal leadership the younger athletes will be looking for. He was part of last season’s starting lineup at times, so he has the experience. He will also provide them with big performances in important games.
Kevin Norton - Norton played a back-up role last year. He will be the ball player who will provide that stability for the offense. He is definitely going to be competing to be the starting point guard this season.
Chris Brown - Another returning letterman, he will provide that experience down low in the post. The 6-5 junior is only part of the height that the Wildcats bring to the floor.
“[Although] we are a fairly young team, this team has a lot of energy, a lot of hustle, where the coaching staff has been pleased with what we’ve seen over these past few weeks,” Wildcats head coach Jason Vela said. “We’ve been very pleased with the work ethic and intensity.”
The coaching staff at Splendora High School encourages their students to be multi-sports athletes. Even still, there were 20 athletes accounted for in Vela’s program, giving the coaching staff time to focus on building on their individual abilities.
“We want them to peak at the right time, so we don’t throw in a lot of offensive and defensive things in,” Vela said.
The team also played in a fall league at Northeast Christian Academy.
“A lot of these guys have had the ball in their hands and been in the weight room, trying to build strength for the season. We’ve ran a good off-season,” Vela said.
The Wildcats’ ultimate goal is to win a district championship.
“Our guys fully understand that’s a very difficult task when you have teams like Cleveland and Coldspring that are very talented, but we still think that, on any given night, we can play with some of those guys,” Vela said.
Last year’s district champion, Cleveland, is returning four or five underclassmen who played a major part in leading the team to an 11-1 season. An athletic Coldspring is a constant in the playoff discussion and Huffman recently moved down from a tough athletic 21-4A district, so they should be a team to reckon with.
There is an uncertainty when it comes to the rest of the district. Many teams have new coaches and are sure to bring new philosophies and outlooks to the district, making Splendora’s goal of a district championship seem far-fetched, but still possible with the right preparation.
Therefore, Vela has put his team in position to be successful in district by scheduling key match-ups including tough Class 4A teams like Caney Creek and Willis. The Wildcats will also face Big Sandy, which made a state final appearance last year on the Class A level.
“I think we’ve put together some teams that will be good competition for us during the pre-district schedule,” Vela said. “We’re not overly concerned about the record. Everybody wants good records, but we’re concerned about how we play and if we’re getting better every day.”
Vela and his coaching staff know the importance of competition, so have opted to forgo the selection of a starting lineup so early in the season. Instead, it is stressed that every position is open for any athlete.
“We’re going to start different people early on in the season. There are no guarantees. We’re going to look at people at different spots. We truly think that, if there’s competition at every spot, then you’re only going to work that much harder to make sure you’re the guy that’s the starter.”
The team constantly hears from the coaches how they each have a certain role to play and that they are part of something bigger than themselves: a family.
“Most of these guys are going to be together for the next few years,” said Vela, “so if we instill in them that idea of family this year, it could help us out in the long run.”
SPLENDORA BOYS BASKETBALL 2008-2009
Last season: 13-17 overall record, 5-7 district record (finished fourth in District 22-3A)
Players to watch:
Bryan Wade - One of the few seniors on the team, Wade will provide that vocal leadership the younger athletes will be looking for. He was part of last season’s starting lineup at times, so he has the experience. He will also provide them with big performances in important games.
Kevin Norton - Norton played a back-up role last year. He will be the ball player who will provide that stability for the offense. He is definitely going to be competing to be the starting point guard this season.
Chris Brown - Another returning letterman, he will provide that experience down low in the post. The 6-5 junior is only part of the height that the Wildcats bring to the floor.
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