Coach Courtney John Bliskey spent all summer witnessing what could be for his Lake View High boys’ basketball team this season.
“We had a fantastic summer run,” Bliskey told Texas Scorecard. “Guys played well together and showed up for everything that we were doing. They spent their whole summer together, growing closer and getting to know one another even better. That’s a great recipe for success.”
Having the senior duo of Dylan Hart and Ahmad Daniels in the backcourt also helps the cause.
The 5-foot-8-inch Daniels is lightening-quick with a high hoops IQ, while Daniels is the team’s most consistent outside shooter, exploding for 40 points in one game last season.
“They played together a lot for us last season and really set the tone for everything we want to do,” Bliskey said. “Dylan’s like a quarterback out there and experience should be a big key for us this season.”
Juniors Ryan Avalos and Johnny Espinosa also figure prominently for the Chiefs, with Bliskey describing the 6-foot-2-inch Avalos as “long and lengthy” enough to lead Lakeview’s pressure defense.
“He led us in both deflections and steals last season as Sixth Man of the Year, while Johnny’s a decent shooter and really aggressive in taking the ball to the hoop,” he said.
The Chiefs are off to a 3-5 start this season, but Bliskey thinks it’s just a matter of time before everything starts clicking.
“We’ve played some really tough competition with one of our losses coming in overtime,” he said. “Plus, we’ve just got our football guys back and that should help.”
The Chiefs made the playoffs for the first time in 18 years last season and Bliskey insists he’s looking for more of the same this time around.
“Being back with many of the same guys from last season will be big for us,” he said. “It means many of the guys have really had a chance to settle into the system and understand what we need to be doing out there.”
