If you had to put your finger on one single thing that has been so consistent over the past few years that might as well be considered law, it’d be that Connally High School has a darn good basketball program.
If you’re a fan of the sport, you’re likely already attune to that fact. If you’re not a fan, just go and watch these teams play - you’ll be converted by the end of it.
Both the Cadet and Lady Cadet basketball teams are hard at work in preparation for what they hope to be a long run in the 2024 UIL State basketball playoffs. They’ll be back in action tonight as they seek to keep their season moving forward.
“Having both the boys and girls programs in the playoffs is huge for our overall athletic program,” CISD Athletic Director Terry Gerik said. “It shows that Connally is one of the more dominant schools in the area in basketball. Our kids play extremely hard and never give up. Other schools in the area know when they play us they better bring their ‘A’ game.”
Both teams entered the playoffs as the runner-ups for the District 23-4A championship after facing losses to the La Vega Pirates during district play. In spite of those defeats, the CHS coaching staff feels that the Cadets have the strength to make a deep run in the playoffs.
“Both of our Head Basketball Coaches did a great job of scheduling tough opponents to get ready for district,” Coach Gerik said. “Our district is extremely competitive, and those games combined with a tough non-district schedule should prepare our kids to do very well in the playoffs. We’re excited to watch!”
The girls team already competed in bi-district and area rounds of the playoffs. After some tough, hard-fought battles, they emerged victorious in both games.
“We had some rough starts in those games, but we were able to make some important adjustments both times,” Varsity Girls Head Coach Six Smith said. “We were able to look back on some of the experiences we had from some really tough games earlier in the season. We’ve grown a lot. At the beginning of the season, we would’ve folded and lost those games.”
With a pre-district schedule that featured several big name, tough opponents from throughout the state, the Lady Cadets have gotten used to having to give every second of every game 100% of their effort and focus.
“We’ve been through a lot as a team - we’ve had different coaches, tough games, and some long hours,” junior Tynia Minnitt said. “Through all of that, we’ve developed some really strong bonds as a group of sisters. Those lessons have taught us what we need to do in tough games throughout the playoffs in order to keep the season going.”
As the girls look to make another trip back to the Region III-4A tournament, the boys’ team is set to start their journey towards UIL State with their upcoming bi-district game. Both teams will play tonight in a double header at Lake Belton High School. The boys take on the Lampasas Badgers at 6:00 PM and the girls will face the Salado Eagles at 7:30 PM.
“Making it to the playoffs means that we get to spend a few more hours and days with one another - both the team members and the coaches,” Varsity Boys Head Coach Quinton Snell said. “It’s awesome knowing that we get to extend our season and play more games.”
Snell, who was recognized at the 2023 State Basketball Championships for hitting his 500th career win as a head coach, feels that the team has grown tremendously as their season has progressed.
“We have progressed well as a team and came together at the right time,” Snell said. “Before the district season began, we played many games and tournaments that gave us the opportunity to figure out who we were as a team. We had to overcome adversity in some of those games, and we use them as reminders of who we are as we approach district and the playoffs.”
In spite of having a late start to the season due to how far the football team advanced into the playoffs, the Cadets have found solid momentum. In fact, you’d never guess that there were any delays by watching the way that they play.
“When football season came to an end, it took us a while for us to really get into the zone and move past that sport ending,” senior Issacc Perez said. “By the time we started playing basketball, we were facing teams that had been playing for a while. But we worked hard to focus and do what we needed to do.”
As both teams settle in and prepare for what is sure to be a grueling playoff season, they are maintaining focus and relying on the lessons that have allowed them to make it this far.
“This is my senior year, and I’m going into the ‘third season’,” senior J’ylon Nobles said. “We have pre-district, then district, and now we’re in the playoffs. We’ve grown through each of those ‘seasons’ . With this team, I think we’ll do good. I am excited to see how far we can go.”