Stewart Johnson
Averaging 58.2 points per game this season, Carroll’s offensive prowess has impressed first-year coach David Markley, who knows his players can be counted on to put up points when needed.
“If you draw something up on the board, they can go run it,” Markley says. “If you can put five shooters on the floor at one time, it’s really hard to guard.”
Senior point guard Ben Estis, who recently hit 1,000 career points, leads the charge offensively for the Dragons, averaging 16 points per game as Carroll’s top scorer. Junior shooting guard Carter Ruck joins forces with Estis to form a dynamic backcourt duo. Ruck averages 15.3 points per game and leads the team in assists (4.6 per game), steals (1.6) and deflections (1.5). Sophomore Christian O'Connor (6-foot-3-inches) adds 10.4 points per game, while senior football All-American RJ Maryland joined the team full time during the Christmas tournaments, bringing an athletic power presence to the inside.
Markley says his team is learning to develop toughness to overcome any athleticism they may lack as a team.
“For us, the question is ‘Are we going to guard?’” he says. “If we can guard and we can rebound, then we've got a great chance.”
SEASON UPDATE
Taking over the Carroll boys basketball program this season was enticing to coach David Markley, a Grapevine native who was well aware of the Dragons’ determined players and expectations for success. He also wanted to help end the Carroll boys' recent playoff drought.
“I've told my guys, ‘I'm not here for a rebuild.’ That's not fair to our seniors and what they've put in,” says Markley, who guided the Chisholm Trail boys basketball team to three playoff trips and a district crown.
After a 10-11 non-district start, the Dragons returned to district competition ready to slug it out. An impressive win over Keller Timber Creek on Jan. 11 improved Carroll's district record to 2-1 after stumbling in the District 4-6A opener against Keller Central in late December.
Lessons learned in tough outings could pay dividends for the Dragons down the stretch. Carroll faced Richardson (ranked No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation by MaxPreps) in early December and was handed a lopsided loss. The Dragons fell in a close 57-53 loss to Grapevine early in the season and faced competitive teams in Magnolia and Cedar Hill.
Now it's about converting those experiences into district wins. Playing solid competition like Byron Nelson (16-6), Keller (16-8) and Keller Central (14-10) should test Carroll's mettle, but Markley says they're up for the challenge.
“That's what we talk about — putting the work in every day, and you can see that it's paying off,” he says.