For four years, each class of high school athletes have the chance to win district championships, beat school rivals, and form everlasting bonds with their teammates. The common goal of going as far as possible in the playoffs unites high school athletes as they grind through countless hours of practice, weight room, conditioning, and more. For the varsity men’s basketball team, their time has finally come.

“The easiest part of the season has been being able to connect as a team and learn to play together all for the common goal,” senior Gabriel Farias said. 

The Spartans stand atop the district leaderships, as they are 7-0 halfway through district play. With a total record of 28-3, they find themselves as one of the top ranked teams in Texas and a legitimate threat to win state.

“We don’t feel any pressure because of our state ranking,” senior Ethan Van Horn said. “We earned it and know how much better we can be. The pressure is on other teams to figure out how to beat us.”

There has certainly been a key factor in the team’s success. Ten of the thirteen players on the varsity roster are seniors, including three of the five starters. As a result, most of the guys have been playing as a unit for four straight years. This presents a serious advantage over the majority of their opponents, who may have to rely upon inexperienced underclassmen.  

“It’s awesome having so many seniors on the team. Most of us have been playing with or against each other for years so we know each other very well,” Van Horn said, “Our team chemistry is great, and we go hard in practice. But at the end of the day, we are all friends and care for one another.”

In addition to the team’s remarkable chemistry, having so many seniors creates a wealth of experience and depth. When the starters get tired, there is always a teammate there to fill his place and contribute to the team in one way or another.

“The depth on our roster allows us to have a lot of talented players ready at all times,” senior Gabriel Farias said. “That allows our team to play aggressive and let it all out on the court because we all can trust the guys will do the same.”

The talent has been in full force. In tournaments early in the season, as well as against other non-district opponents, the Spartans won games by upwards of fifty, sixty points. Now in district play, the squad is closing in on a district championship. No matter the situation, the diversely talented group has someone to help win a game. Whether they need a sharpshooter or a lockdown player on D, the next man up is always available.

“My role on the team as a senior is to help share whatever experience I have to the underclassmen, and on the court I am used as more of one of the defensive anchors on the team,” Farias said. 

Senior year can be as daunting as it gets for high school athletes. For many, it’s the last ride before they walk away from the sport they love forever. And as difficult as playoffs can be, very few teams get to cherish their last game as a victory. For the ten seniors, it would also be a goodbye to their teammates and the fans that have cheered them on for the last four years.

“The hardest part about playoffs will be playing better teams but we’ll be ready for it,” senior Grant Van Hoozer said. “It’s nothing we haven’t seen before and we’re ready for whoever we play. The experience we have really helps our confidence as a team; Our team chemistry is solid.”

The talent is there. The chemistry is there. The experience is there. The Spartans have all the tools to go far in the playoffs that sit right on the horizon. All that’s left is to get it done.