Saturday, December 14, 2024
It’s hard to imagine what else the Lipan Indians could accomplish on a basketball court. The program has 15 state tournament appearances and six state championships, including the past two.
And last season’s came in the most improbable of fashions as they graduated all five starters and returned two bench players.
Now, they are attempting to do something never before accomplished in Lipan basketball history — a three-peat.
The Indians return three starters and seven varsity players in all as they begin the quest. Returning starters are sophomore guard Court Gaylor (19.2 points per game, 3.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists), along with junior Darius Steed (11.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 blocks) at post and Payton Cornelius (5.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists) at guard.
Gaylor and Steed were co-district MVPs last season, along with garnering all-region and all-state honors. Cornelius received first-team all-district accolades.
Also back are senior forwards Colby Scott and Dillon Hall, along with sophomores Tucker Tims at guard and Wyatt Yates at post.
Lipan will compete in District 11-2A with DeLeon, Graford, Hamilton, Hico, Poolville and Santo. The Indians enter the season ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 2A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, while Graford is No. 6.
“It will once again be highly competitive this year,” Lipan coach Brent Gaylor said. “We lose Tolar and Ranger, but are replacing them with Graford, who has won state two of the past three years in 1A, along with a very good Hamilton team we played last year in the playoffs.
“Going to be another fun year. We will definitely be tested before the playoffs with games versus 5A Dallas Adamson, top 15 Sam Rayburn (Class 2A), defending (Class 1A) state champion Jayton, and Top 5 (1A) Gordon.”
TOLAR RATTLERS
Andy Atkins takes the helm at Tolar after Scott Richardson left to coach at the new Eagle Mountain High School in Saginaw. He takes over a program that has advanced to at least the second round of the Class 2A playoffs in each of the previous four seasons.
Now, the Rattlers will test their mettle in the 3A ranks. They have three returning players, including a pair of starters, to lead the way.
Back as starters for the Rattlers are sophomores Cayden Abrego (9.6 points per game, 7.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.5 steals) at forward and Briton Rice (2.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals). Also returning to battle for a starting spot is senior forward Zane Terrell (7.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.1 steals).
All three players were honored in the all-district selections. Abrego was named Newcomer of the Year, Rice was a first-team pick and Terrell was on the second team.
“We have a few other players that played some varsity minutes early in the season last year while the football team made their run to the state game. They will play bigger roles for us this year,” Atkins said.
The Rattlers are once again in the football postseason after capturing the District 5-3A Division II championship.
The Rattlers’ basketball district will also include Breckenridge, Comanche, Dublin, Early, Eastland, Millsap and Peaster.
“New district, new classification. We are excited about being a part of it,” Atkins said. “Peaster is always a strong basketball program. Breckenridge will bring back a strong team that got third in district last year, including a win over Peaster. There are some very strong athletes littered throughout the rest of the district.
“With our football team being so strong it will take us a bit once we get our full team to really know how the season will go. It will feel like two different seasons as we will start with only half our available players.
“We are excited about what we can do during that time and will have to relearn some things once everyone gets in the gym.
“We will be young and fairly inexperienced, but we will have some talented players that once they find their basketball legs will make some noise in district.”
Atkins was formerly the head coach at Class 3A Bowie near Wichita Falls. He led the Jackrabbits to three straight playoffs in his three seasons leading the program, including a third-round appearance in 2023.
GRANBURY PIRATES
Jeremy McFerrin is the new head coach of the Pirates, a program that has reached the postseason the past two seasons under the now-retired David Breazeale. He returns two players and no starters from a 19-11 team.
Junior guard Miller Schenewark and senior forward Murphy Page will lead the charge. Schenewark is coming off a season in which he was named second-team all-district.
The Pirates will play in District 5-5A alongside Aledo, Azle, Fort Worth Chisholm Trail, Keller Fossil Ridge, Saginaw and White Settlement Brewer.
“I am excited about our district. I have the opportunity to compete against some old colleagues,” McFerrin said. “This district will be challenging and great competition for all teams from top to bottom.”
McFerrin’s resume’ includes guiding Trinity Christian-Lubbock to a Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Class 4A state championship in 2017.
As was the case throughout Breazeale’s 14 seasons, the Pirates will face a challenging predistrict schedule. It often paid off in reaching or competing for a playoff berths.
“I hope that our preseason gets us better and ready to make a playoff run,” McFerrin said.
