by Samuel Abbas | sports editor
The Jags faced off against the Judson Rockets at Paul Taylor Field House. The Jags fought hard and prevailed against the Rockets 59-58 with two game deciding free throws in the final seconds.
“I think we were overlooked a lot last game and nobody really expected us to win. It feels great to have beaten a top 10 team in the state and to do it in such a close game makes it that much sweeter,” senior Christian Quintanilla said.
Upsetting the 7th ranked team in the state in the first round of the playoffs was a huge morale booster for the jags. They feel if they can maintain this level of play they can push farther in the playoffs.
“Beating Judson was really a significant event for the Johnson Boys Basketball program. The Rockets where state finalist last season and ranked 7th in the state this season. They have been a successful program for many years and ended our season in the play-offs the last two seasons. Our team was able to develop a sense of toughness and the drive that could withstand the flow of ups and downs that a you face when playing a quality team like Judson. I think belief in ourselves was evident in our play and the determination to compete against a rival that has outstanding players. We never gave up and made key plays in the end to stun a team that really didn’t expect to lose,” coach Randy Schuster said.
The Jags feel their dedication and team style of basketball can help them continue to win throughout the playoffs. They feel like they can make a deep run in the playoffs towards the ultimate goal.
“With each step of success our confidence continues to grow and the dream to become a state champion is fueled with the excitement of the next challenge we face,” Schuster said.
The jags will play Warren Warriors at 8 pm Friday at the Alamo Convocation Center. They feel their good chemistry and unselfish style of play can contribute to a victory over Warren.
“We have really good chemistry on this team. Everyone plays unselfish and we play team basketball. I think we can beat Warren if we stick to playing our game and everyone sticks to the gameplan,” Quintanilla said.
