For Rangeview High School this year, every single sport has been very disappointing in the fact that no one has even reached the playoffs at all. This would lead for the hungering anticipation for the basketball season and after starting the season 2-8 while only beating teams with an under .500 record, this season seemed to be a wash. But, to the surprise of their doubters, they have gone 7-2. And after a season full of fighting and proving everyone wrong, their once bright fire dimmed down slowly leading to their heartbreaking loss to Chaparral in the first round of the playoffs, and like that, their season was over.
Moving on, the team began on the same track as last year, finishing the season off by breaking even for a record of 12-12 similar to last year’s record of 11-13. Although the records seem to prove that they were similar, the teams have shown to be very different than each other. Last season, the varsity center for their basketball team was seven feet tall whereas the tallest player from freshman team to varsity is six foot four. This proved to be the biggest struggle for the varsity squad at the beginning of the season but thanks to the team’s defensive strong suit, they managed to not let teams in the league with D1 commits exploit their shortcomings.
Kenny Black Knox proved to be an amazing help in their backcourt defense while pushing the pace offensively, averaging 6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 11.3 points per game second to only Archie Weatherspoon. Archie Weatherspoon himself has proven to be a very monumental player to the team’s offense, rising to the occasion as a freshman through leading the team in points and free throw percentage making it known that he does not shy to the occasion. Other notable players include Mareon Chapman and Kevin Hernandez. Chapman and Hernandez were the defensive frontcourt that they needed being the most efficient on the team and also aiding heavily by stringing up three-pointers and being unexpected scoring threats.
Overall, this season has uncovered the fact that a lot of their key stars will not graduate and with no doubt will improve with the gained experience. Once that occurs, the guys will be in perfect shape to once again defy the odds.
