Bulldogs reflect on historical basketball season

NEDERLAND - The boys varsity basketball team is out of the playoffs after losing 56-49 to  the Brenham Cubs at North Shore Senior High School on March 1.

“The kids played hard, but just came up short,” Brian English, coach, said.

The team was named Area Champion for the first time since 1952 after defeating Magnolia High School 64-53.

The 09-10 boys’ basketball team has lead a successful season, with the freshmen at an overall record of 31-2, the junior varsity with a record of  22-8, and the varsity with a record of 20-14.

“They improved each and every game in confidence, defense and team chemistry,” English said.

The varsity team proved themselves this season with a district record of 11-3, and won the first game in the playoffs against Barbers Hill with a score of 60-49.

“I’m very proud of the boys and they worked very hard to get to where they are,” English said.

English feels that the overall season was very successful, and believes that the two Ozen victories and the two PN-G victories were the most memorable of the season.

“The team made changes for the better. You cannot be a great team without those great improvements,” English said.

The JV team’s overall record was 22-8, and they had a district record of 10-4.

“The season went really well because the kids got better as the season went. I am very proud of how we played this year, the worked hard and developed as basketball players, which made the team better,” JV basketball coach Bill Jardell said.

The most memorable game to Jardell was the teams play in the Bridge City Tournament when they beat Westbrook.

The freshman basketball team has gotten through this season with an overall record of 31-2, and a district record of 13-1.

“Kids won 31 games, but the most successful part was how these young men played together,” Jim St. Pierre, freshman basketball coach, said.

The freshman boys were co-champions of district in the freshman level.

“The young men on the team had very high expectations from coaches and the community. I feel the expectations were met and surpassed,” St. Pierre said.

Girls Basketball Review:

The Lady Bulldog basketball season has officially ended. The varsity and JV girls played their last game on February 9 at Livingston. The final score was 65-41, Livingston.

“This year’s team played very hard,” Laurence Williams, varsity coach, said.

Although the team ultimately lost the game and are out of the district running, it helped the girls grow as a team.

“I think we came out in the second half and played more as a team than as a group of individuals,” Williams said. “It was a bright spot of the game.”

The girls made several good plays and assists throughout the game.

“In about the middle of the fourth quarter, we had a group in the ball game that in two or three straight possessions when everyone touched the ball,” Williams said. “The girls were sharing the ball very well.”

Players that stood out included Morgan Simmons, junior, and Tori Biddle, freshman. Simmons scored eight points and had nine rebounds, and Tori had five assists.

“I enjoy seeing all of the players’ improvement from day to day,” Williams said. “Many of the underclassmen players gained a lot of experience.”