It’s that time of year when basketball’s beginning and football is ending. To set the season in motion, the Central Bobcats Boys Basketball Junior Varsity and Varsity teams traveled to Abilene Wylie High School to participate in the first scrimmage of the season.
This was one of two scrimmages to be held before the first game against Del Rio beginning at 6 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2015 at Central High School, 655 Caddo St. The next scrimmage will also be at Central on Nov. 12 starting at 5 p.m.
Assistant Coach Mark Nichols, who overseas JV, said he’s glad his team got to compete Saturday because scrimmages are like a “glorified practice.”
“[The boys] played hard; they got better,” said Nichols. “It’s good that they come out here to compete and get better, mainly meshing as a team.”
During JV’s first game against Cooper Christian, the boys lost 30-36, but they rebounded back and scored a 39-15 victory against Midland Christian. They also beat Abilene Wylie 21-17.
Nichols said the scrimmage provided insight into what JV needs to work on before the first game, and that’s communication, offensively and defensively, as well as patience.
“All they can do is continue to improve every day to get a little bit better; that’s all we can ask for,” he stated.
Overall, Nichol’s said he’s excited about the upcoming season and believes his team has a chance at “something special.”
As for Varsity, the team hooped Midland Christian High 45-37, and scored 65-33 against Cooper Christian. Unfortunately, the boys lost by a point to Abilene Wylie with a final score of 15-16.
However, that final game only lasted two quarters. The Varsity boys started out strong the first quarter, but they fouled three times the first quarter and five times the second. Those free throws helped bump Wylie into the lead.
After the final game, Head Coach Jaime Boswell said Wylie’s runs were “very very good” and the team has a great man-to-man offensive set, which are tactics Central Varsity will have to improve.
“We’ve got to work on that stuff and watch the film,” stated Boswell. “We’ll break it down and work on what we got to work on. Same thing against Cooper with presses. We got to work on our press regular half court and press offense.”
Boswell, like Nichols, said the scrimmages are a good tool in identifying ways to improve and prepare for what comes next.
“It’s good for us,” Boswell added. “You know [the players] get a little tired going against one another, and it’s good to go against other people in a few different situations. Honestly, we’re pleased with most of it, but we have a lot of stuff to work on. We’re going to get there.”
Boswell said the goal for this season is to prove Central High Boys Basketball has what it takes to make the top four pick.
He said, “We weren’t picked for the top four. Abilene High was picked first, Permian second, Midland third and Odessa High fourth; so nobody’s basically giving us a chance. We need to prove we belong.”
For more information about Central High School sports, or to access season schedules, click here.
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