Junior forward Jordan Castillo scored against East Texas Baptist University at a Jan. 10 game where the Comets took home a sweeping win with a final score of 113-73. Photo by Noah Whitehead | Photo Editor.
The
men’s basketball team has been off to a strong start this season, remaining
undefeated since Dec. 8. On Thursday, the team took home a narrow victory
against Belhaven University in Mississippi, with a final score of 72-71.
Sophomore
guard Javon Snow said the team’s overall dynamic is a factor in its continued
success.
“It’s a
good atmosphere, we’re a really close-knit group and we’re really playing well
together this year,” Snow said.
Belhaven closed the first half with a 10-point lead but
missed 21 field goals and 13 three pointers in the second half, which ended up
costing them the game.
“We are
currently in a battle in our league in the American Southwest Conference. We’re
trying to win the East Division,” said Terry Butterfield, the head coach of the
men’s team. “The winner of the division will be the one that hosts the
conference tournament this year at the end of the season.”
Hosting
the conference tournament has been a long-time ambition for Butterfield, who is
in his 19th year as a head coach for the men’s team. The mewen’s team has not
won the conference championship since 2014, and hosting it could be important
in winning the tournament this year.
“We
definitely want to host the conference tournament this year,” Snow said. “So,
we’re in position to do that if we keep winning and have a shot at the national
tournament.”
Last
year’s ASC East Division champion was LeTourneau University, with 24 overall
wins, whereas the Comets are currently at 15.
“We’re
doing what we need to do on the court, on and off the court, and it’s
translating to our record,” said freshman forward Simeon Soname.
This
time last season, the team had six losses and 12 wins. Butterfield said though
last year’s record was not the worst, this team’s performance season has been
markedly different.
“Each season is different,
there’s no two seasons that are alike,” Butterfield said.
He said
cutting losses in half by this point has been a key indicator of improvement,
but there is still some ways to go to secure victory.
“Nothing’s
been decided,” Butterfield said. “Everything is very much up in the air. We
have eight league games left. Everything is basically up for grabs right now.”
Since
the recent game against Belhaven, the team improved its record to 15-3.
Butterfield said the right mentality is important in achieving results.
“It’s easy to have high
morale when you’re winning and experiencing success. I think that success
breeds confidence, and hopefully confidence can be turned into more success,”
Butterfield said. “They sort of are dependent on each other.”
Butterfield
said the potential impact a loss in the final stretch would have on the morale
of the team wouldn’t hold the players back for long.
“I think
that guys have to be resilient when things don’t go their way,” he said. “You
have to turn the page and you have to get on to the next one.”
In
regard to the final eight games the team has to play, Butterfield said one of
the most important ways to help the team carry on is the fans.
“It makes a huge difference when we have our student body
come out to support,” Butterfield said. “There’s nothing harder than being on
the road and playing in front of a partisan crowd, pulling for the other team.”