Stewart Johnson
With just four returning lettermen from last year, the Dragons lack experience despite the team’s 13 seniors on this year’s roster. And with the departure of 2019 graduate and 5-6A Offensive MVP Brandon Haddock, Carroll’s offensive firepower this season needed to come from a new source.
Senior guard Ben Johnson, a newcomer to varsity, is leading the Dragons’ scoring charge this year with 11.4 points per game through the team’s first 21 contests. Senior point guard Daniel Sommerhalder, a returning letterman, adds 11.2 points per game as the second-leading scorer on the team.
Russell Hyman, a senior guard, leads Carroll in FG percentage with 49.6% (66-of-133), while Johnson tops the 3-point FG percentage, shooting 41.2% (70-of-170).
“We’ve got a lot of selfless guys, guys that don’t get caught up in minutes and points and things like that,” says McDade.
SEASON UPDATE
Carroll Boys Basketball took its lumps this season but continued to battle for a playoff spot as the 5-6A district schedule neared the halfway point.
The Dragons (9-14 overall, 1-3 in district through 23 games) survived a challenging pre-district schedule that saw them fall to seven state-ranked opponents. But the high level of competition did not let up as the district season commenced in early January.
“I think the parity is unreal as far as district is concerned,” says Carroll coach Eric McDade, whose team faces more state-ranked powers in Denton Guyer (17- 5, 4-0 in district) and Trophy Club Byron Nelson (16-8, 3-1 in district). “It’s just a really tough district.”
McDade chose to have his team face tier-one talent in the early season schedule in order to help the Dragons become battle-tested for district. Opponents such as DeSoto (No. 24 among 6A teams in the state by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches ranking), Coppell (No. 19 by TABC), Austin Vandergrift (No. 16 by TABC), South Grand Prairie (No. 14 TABC) and St. Mark’s (No. 26 in Texas on MaxPreps poll) gave Carroll exposure to elite teams.
District opponent Guyer is ranked No. 20 by the TABC and should prove to be the Dragons’ biggest test in district.
‘19, ‘20 Roster
Head Coach: Eric McDade
Assistant Coaches: Jon Cravens, Jordan Willis, Vernon Coleman, Jarrett Bates, Cade McCrary
1: Brandon Alm, G, Junior
2: Russell Hyman, G, Senior
3: Bryson McDade, G, Senior
4: Dalton Coleman, G, Junior
10: Zach Zvonecek, F, Junior
12: Ben Bergstrom, G, Senior
13: Trae Williams, F, Senior
14: Ben Estis, G, Sophomore
15: Jackson Hinds, G, Senior
20: Graham Chernik, G, Senior
21: Nick Kaira, G, Senior
22: Jackson Coates, G, Senior
23: Danny Sommerhalder, G, Senior
24: Zach Smith, G, Senior
30: Robert Shultz, G, Senior
32: Ben Johnson, G, Senior
35: Coleman Thompson, F, Senior