Mckinney Courier-gazette > Sports
2007-08: A season for the MHS record books
G.J. Vilarino, right, and the McKinney basketball team enter the postseason after compiling the program’s first perfect district season in recent memory. Megan Millender/McKinney Courier-Gazette.
By Jim Donovan, McKinney Courier-Gazette
There’s a brilliance in team basketball, when talented players put their individual pride on the shelves for the betterment of the name they wear on the fronts of their jerseys. Coaches always strive to get the best out of their teams, but it’s a feat not so easily accomplished.
Wes Watson has had his fair share of talented McKinney High basketball teams, but in 2007-08 the Lions’ leader has orchestrated one of the best seasons in the program’s illustrious history.
After months and months of intense workouts, lifting sessions and games, the Lions saw the fruits of their labor paid in full Tuesday when they capped their perfect District 9-4A season with a win over the rival McKinney North Bulldogs.
About 40 fans stayed in their seats after the game, eventually parading down onto the court to get a first-hand glimpse of one of the great hoops traditions — the cutting of the nets.
And one by one, after arguably their best team victory of the season, the Lions climbed the ladder to snip their own pieces of twine. Their own pieces of history.
Watson was the last to grab hold of his.
“I don’t know that people realize how hard this is to do,” Watson said, sitting on the home bench, still beaming after the victory. “Yeah, I think that we were the most talented team in the district this year. Still, that doesn’t mean its going to be easy, and it was never easy at any point.”
In 14 district games, the Lions won all 14, and did so in different fashion each time. Half of those victories came by 10 points or fewer, including four in a row by less than five points. Three times they won by more than 20. Whether it was a close game or a blowout, Watson’s squad proved it has the mettle to handle any situation.
“Teams are simply bringing their A game because they want to be the ones to knock you off the perch,” Watson said. “This is a testament to their hard work and character, and I’m very, very proud of them.”
Many expected Kentucky-commit and multi-talented point guard G.J. Vilarino to be the leader of this year’s team, and sometimes he was. But he never had to shoulder the load alone with the likes of Joe Holley, Beau Smith, Joe Holley, Andy Lalumandier, Nico Mucci and a bevy of other talented backups standing beside him.
“We were concerned about our depth around Christmas, and our bench really answered the bell in district,” Watson said. “Starting in that first game at The Colony, they made believers out of our coaching staff, out of our starters, and they were very valuable pieces to what we did along the way.”
Don’t think for a second, however, that the Lions are satisfied with a mere district championship.
Sure, it’s an accomplishment that no Lion will ever have taken away from him, but it’s also the first of what the team hopes will be the first of many achievements as they poise themselves for a deep playoff run.
“I told the guys this morning that, starting Tuesday night against McKinney North, we will not play a weak team for the rest of the season,” Watson said.
That continues Saturday when the Lions (23-7), who won’t know the date, time, place or opponent for their area-round playoff opener until next week, take on 15-4A champion Crowley in a warmup game.
“We’re bracing ourselves for a long, deep playoff run,” Watson said. “But we know it’s not going to be easy.”
Wes Watson has had his fair share of talented McKinney High basketball teams, but in 2007-08 the Lions’ leader has orchestrated one of the best seasons in the program’s illustrious history.
After months and months of intense workouts, lifting sessions and games, the Lions saw the fruits of their labor paid in full Tuesday when they capped their perfect District 9-4A season with a win over the rival McKinney North Bulldogs.
About 40 fans stayed in their seats after the game, eventually parading down onto the court to get a first-hand glimpse of one of the great hoops traditions — the cutting of the nets.
And one by one, after arguably their best team victory of the season, the Lions climbed the ladder to snip their own pieces of twine. Their own pieces of history.
Watson was the last to grab hold of his.
“I don’t know that people realize how hard this is to do,” Watson said, sitting on the home bench, still beaming after the victory. “Yeah, I think that we were the most talented team in the district this year. Still, that doesn’t mean its going to be easy, and it was never easy at any point.”
In 14 district games, the Lions won all 14, and did so in different fashion each time. Half of those victories came by 10 points or fewer, including four in a row by less than five points. Three times they won by more than 20. Whether it was a close game or a blowout, Watson’s squad proved it has the mettle to handle any situation.
“Teams are simply bringing their A game because they want to be the ones to knock you off the perch,” Watson said. “This is a testament to their hard work and character, and I’m very, very proud of them.”
Many expected Kentucky-commit and multi-talented point guard G.J. Vilarino to be the leader of this year’s team, and sometimes he was. But he never had to shoulder the load alone with the likes of Joe Holley, Beau Smith, Joe Holley, Andy Lalumandier, Nico Mucci and a bevy of other talented backups standing beside him.
“We were concerned about our depth around Christmas, and our bench really answered the bell in district,” Watson said. “Starting in that first game at The Colony, they made believers out of our coaching staff, out of our starters, and they were very valuable pieces to what we did along the way.”
Don’t think for a second, however, that the Lions are satisfied with a mere district championship.
Sure, it’s an accomplishment that no Lion will ever have taken away from him, but it’s also the first of what the team hopes will be the first of many achievements as they poise themselves for a deep playoff run.
“I told the guys this morning that, starting Tuesday night against McKinney North, we will not play a weak team for the rest of the season,” Watson said.
That continues Saturday when the Lions (23-7), who won’t know the date, time, place or opponent for their area-round playoff opener until next week, take on 15-4A champion Crowley in a warmup game.
“We’re bracing ourselves for a long, deep playoff run,” Watson said. “But we know it’s not going to be easy.”
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