It’s no secret that by the time district season comes around, each and every sports team is locked in. District is the time of year to prove your dedication to your team and the fans cheering your name, dedication that requires the team to play fast and intensely.
“Well district games, you know, that’s what gets you in the playoffs,” Head boys Basketball Coach Brian Malone said. “Each team in the district is trying to fight for a position to get into the playoffs, so it’s a lot more intense.”
Having 10 victories and four defeats, the Kilgore Boys Basketball team ends their district season ranking third behind Chapel Hill and Pine Tree. Not to be discouraged, however, as the team finished the season strong in their game against Gilmer with a score of 71-53. In addition, the Bulldog basketball team qualified for the very playoffs every team was gunning for.
“It’s all about tempo,” Malone said. “We like to run, move the ball up as quick as we can. If we can score fast, we flip our defense.”
What all goes into basketball, though? To be specific, what are the drills, strategies, etc? Well, it’s simple. Defense and offense. The average audience would be able to tell when the team goes on the defense or offense, but as any skeptical viewer (such as the writer of this article) would wonder, what exactly are defensive/offensive drills?
“We run a lot of shell off, shell defense, just to practice on being help side, and help man, help man have a recovery,” Malone said. “We never sit back into his own. We always guard man to man”
Formation is key is sports. Kilgore specializes in defense, the sort of brace for impact approach. Take the hit, flip the script, and control the ball.
“It’s forming and teaching the kids how to be in position if the ball goes on one side of the floor,” Malone said. “We want to go fast. Get a quick bucket; if we get a quick bucket, that’s fine. Score a bucket quick, play our defense, going for the defense in the full court. Full court defense and we’re controlling the tempo.”
District is over and the ranks are set in stone, but the qualification for playoffs is an achievement within its own right.
Next Tuesday, February 24, be sure to support the team as they face off against Lindale, 8 P.M. at the Tyler High School!