You had better play defense if you hope to crack their regular rotation. And, so far at least, it appears that the message has gotten across.
Both Thomas and Sanders took part in Wednesday’s District 12-5A basketball media day at Las Casas, giving fellow coaches and area media their assessment of the upcoming season.
The sixth annual event, organized by Belton boys coach John Osborn, featured Baylor coach Scott Drew as its guest speaker.
“We’re developing and we’re building,” Thomas said. “I’m excited about the direction that we’re moving.”
Said Sanders: “Defense is mental. When you get tired, you still have to push through. You might have that time where you want to reach, but you know you should be moving your feet. Once we get that mental part in place, everything else will fall into place.”
While the event was billed as a chance for coaches to talk up their teams, most took the opportunity to sneak in a few one-liners, usually at their own expense.
Thomas joked that while he’s enjoying a “honeymoon” period as a first-year coach, his players haven’t had the same luxury.
The Wildcats, though, who return one of the district’s most experienced lineups, have adjusted well to Thomas’ tough-nosed attitude.
“The kids are really buying in. They’re working hard,” Thomas said. “I love their attitude. They buy into everything I’m telling them.”
On the girls side, Temple graduate Sanders said her Tem-Cats are learning that defensive attitude after playing in a more offense-first system in the past.
“With every practice, you’re going to have good ones and you’re going to have bad ones,” she said. “The good ones outweigh the bad ones. They’re playing hard and playing together.”
The Temple boys open the season Nov. 18 at Wildcat Gym against Georgetown. The Tem-Cats begin Tuesday at Brenham.
Though both Belton squads are expected to be young, the Tigers and Lady Tigers are looking to improve after missing the playoffs last season.
“We have a bunch of guys that are passionate about playing basketball,” Osborn said.
Said girls coach Randy Bell: “We’ll be more athletic than we’ve been in the past.”
Bryan’s Reese recovering
Bryan boys coach John Reese is expected to return home Sunday after having open-heart surgery to repair a tear in his aorta earlier this week, assistant coach Trae Davis said.
Reese, a Temple graduate, had told Davis he hoped to return to work around Nov. 17.
Drew the salesman
Sixth-year Baylor coach Drew was enthusiastic when talking about the Bears’ up-and-coming program.
Baylor returns eight players from last year’s squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988.
Even with all those returners and a talented freshmen class, Drew had one more wish.
“Robert Griffin, I’ll tell you what, maybe we’ll try and get him out for basketball too,” Drew said with a laugh about the Bears’ quarterback and former Copperas Cove star.
