The Hays boys basketball team will be trying to break a decade-long playoff drought when district play begins this season. Two-time all-district player Caleb Kimbro and a few key returners will join forces with several sophomores expected to make a big difference on varsity this year. (Photo by Tony Smith)
by JASON GORDON
The Hays High boys basketball team is out to break a streak that dates back more than a decade.
The Rebels haven’t made the playoffs in more than 10 years and second-year head coach Dean McMullen hopes all that will change this year even though Hays had a 3-9 district record last season.
“We haven’t made the playoffs around here in a long time and we want to change that,” McMullen said. “Our goal is to win district.”
McMullen has many fresh faces on varsity off a JV team that went 23-5 last season.
The two returning varsity starters are junior Caleb Kimbro, a two-time first-team all-district selection who averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game last year, and 6-foot, 8-inch senior post Travis Miller, who averaged six points and five rebounds a game last season.
“Caleb is quicker and stronger than he was last year and he has great leadership skills. He is a player who hates to lose,” McMullen said. “Travis has also gotten a lot stronger. He’s worked very hard in the offseason and is making more plays around the goal.”
Senior forward Isaiah Williams was a part-time starter who averaged eight points and four rebounds last season and is a threat from both the inside and outside.
McMullen will welcome sophomore point guards Stephen Ayala and Jacob Rodriguez to the varsity.
“They should share time at the point guard spot,” he said. “Stephen has great floor leadership and he gets the ball to people in scoring positions. Jacob also has great floor vision.”
Wing Jaren Rodriguez led the Rebels in scoring in the first four games they played. He’s averaging 17 points per contest so far. Miller led Hays with 14 points in a 56-37 win over Victoria East Tuesday night. The Rebs have also beaten Marble Falls and Seguin this season.
Two more players who will definitely contribute to the varsity this season are 6-7 sophomore post Hayden Cagle and senior wing Trey Johnson.
“Hayden broke his arm last year but has come back very strong,” McMullen said. “Trey is very quick to the goal and is a great defender.”
Kimbro said he is confident this season will be different than last year for the Rebs.
“Everyone worked very hard in the offseason,” Kimbro said. “We are hoping to do very well.”
McMullen agrees this team has a different attitude.
“The difference I see between this year and last year is every time we step on the court this year we expect to win,” he said. “Last year I think there was a little doubt with a new coach and a new system but everyone has bought in this season.”
Hays will play in the Seguin tournament this weekend, where they will open the tourney with games against Lake Travis and East Central on Friday. The Rebel Classic is Dec. 8-10 and Hays opens District 27-4A play at Lehman on Dec. 30.
