Travis Nicks is elated to be past the getting-to-know-you-period with his Eden High boys’ basketball team.
“We started slow, but we’re playing pretty well and really starting to gel,” Nicks told Texas Scorecard. “It’s been all about coming together and adjusting to one another in our first year together.”
The Bulldogs (10-8) have won three of their last four by an average of 45 points as the senior quartet of Donovan Gonzalez, Austin Moyo, Anthony Moyo and Ethan Sauchedo have started to lead more by example.
“They understand the game and keep everyone calm no matter what’s happening out there with all their experience and know how,” Nicks added. “After those four guys, our entire roster is filled with nothing but sophomores and freshmen so their experience has been invaluable to our improvement.”
The four also team for a combined 47 points per game, with Gonzalez leading the way at 15 points per night.
“We like to pressure the ball from the opening tip, with that creating more opportunities for us and our offense,” Nicks said, adding that as his players have gotten in better game shape and shooting and ball movement have improved each player has come to trust the next one more than ever.
“It makes a difference,” he said. “It makes a difference on the floor, in the locker room and finally on the scoreboard.”
Nicks said one of the underclassmen who has stood out and is coming on even stronger is 6-foot-5 sophomore center Hunner Rogers, averaging a near double-double in scoring and rebounding over the team’s last several games.
“We’re optimistic about the rest of the season and our primary goal continues to be winning the district,” he said. “From there, we’ll take one game at a time and look to work our way home from there.”
