High School Basketball

With district title in hand, Spartans are ready to make a run

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 2/12/23

“This is the time where you have to lock it in. You have to work harder than everyone else and embrace that grind and intensity. We have a great young team, this team has the talent to go to state, I’m sure of it. We just have to keep getting better. We have the pieces we just have to continue to improve.”

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High School Basketball

With district title in hand, Spartans are ready to make a run

Posted

When Seven Lakes coaches and players met before the season to go over their goals, they didn’t want to sell themselves short.

Even with a group that had players stepping into new roles and learning, the Spartans knew they had something special on their hands, and they knew that the sky was the limit for this year.

So, they set the loftiest of expectations for themselves, and made their top goal making it to the state tournament.

“We set a lofty goal and we’re not there yet,” said Seven Lakes head coach Shannon Heston. “Were striving to get there but our focus is hitting milestones along the way, focusing on those. We know that we have to be focused on the here and now, taking care of what’s within our reach and knocking things down until we reach our biggest goal. But we feel like that is the right ultimate goal for us, with our talent, why not us?”

Those smaller goals along the way have been key for the Spartans, as they have been building towards the playoffs all season, the first check on their box was winning district, and they have done that, now they’ve turned the page towards going undefeated in the District 19-6A season and taking the playoffs round by round.

“That’s the next accomplishment we’re looking at said senior center Josh Akpovwa. “Just to bring another district championship here is huge, but to have a chance to go undefeated in district while doing it is a really cool thing to think about. But we’re not done here, we know how important it is to keep the right mindset and we’re going to stay focused on our goals.”

Last year’s Seven Lakes team also won a district championship, but the team’s ultimate goal was cut short, when they suffered a heartbreaking 53-50 loss to Bellaire in the area round.

That feeling of a playoff run cut short is something last year’s varsity players still feel, and it’s a feeling they aren’t interested in having again with a group that includes some of the best talent the school has ever had.

“This is the time where you have to lock it in,” Akpovwa said. “You have to work harder than everyone else and embrace that grind and intensity. We have a great young team, this team has the talent to go to state, I’m sure of it. We just have to be better every single day, play defense and with a great motor. We have the pieces we just have to continue to improve.”

That is the mindset for every Seven Lakes player, they know how much things will need to be elevated in the playoffs, and if they want to reach their biggest goals, they know that they can’t let up for a single game.

“Everyone has to be on the same page and we have to be ready,” said junior guard A.J. Bates. “We have to be at our best every night, we have the talent, the depth, coaching and everything you could want, now we have to go out and show everyone we have what it takes.”

Katy ISD, Seven Lakes, sports, AJ Bates, sports, basketball, playoffs