Stewart Johnson
Strong play on both sides of the court is something Carroll boys basketball coach David Markley wants to see from his team on a regular basis. The Dragons have shown explosiveness on offense, but continue working to develop a gritty defense to keep opponents in check.
Averaging 59.4 points per game through 24 contests, Carroll also held opponents to just 52.4 points per game. A low of 31 points allowed against Magnolia was an impressive defensive showing by the Dragons, as was their 81-point scoring performance against Pasadena Memorial.
Junior Christian O’Connor (15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 42% on three-pointers) leads the charge for Carroll, while 6-foot-5 junior Jack Lawson (12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds) provides size. Senior point guard Carter Ruck (11.7 points, 4.3 assists) can score and create offense for the Dragons.
Markley says sophomores Ari Tumma and Oakley Sarshar also show promise and could play key roles for the Dragons over the next couple of seasons. Despite his team’s setbacks in district, Markley said he’s confident in their ability and knows what they can accomplish.
“Sometimes we’re not the most talented team, but we can be the tougher team, the team that plays together the best,” he says. “That’s what we’ve got to do to win some games in this district.”
SEASON UPDATE
Posting a 14-18 overall record last season, the Carroll boys basketball team had already matched last year’s pace before returning to the court after winter break this season.
However, Carroll found wins much tougher to come by once they dove into the first half of the district schedule.
“(4-6A) is one of the tougher districts in the Metroplex,” coach David Markley says, whose team went 0-5 to start district after compiling a 14-4 record in non-district games. “It’s a battle every single night. If you’re not ready to play, you’re going to get beat.”
The Dragons faced stout opponents such as Keller Central and Trophy Club Byron Nelson, both ranked in the Top 25 by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC). Carroll also contended with the likes of Keller, Northwest Eaton and Timber Creek, teams with winning records that were ready to challenge for playoff spots.
The Dragons gave Markley reason to be optimistic early in the season as they won the Magnolia tournament in mid-November, then advanced to the championship game in December's Cedar Hill tournament before falling to Top 10-ranked Plano East. A 57-55 road win against McKinney Boyd, a double overtime win over Pasadena Memorial and a late game dagger to beat Arlington Bowie 36-34 were other memorable non-district games that allowed the Dragons to gain confidence.
"We've made some great strides, and I think our effort every day in practice has gotten better," Markley says.