By James Mueller ’19

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Things did not look good for the Strake Jesuit Crusaders basketball team after a 1-3 start to district play, but the Crusaders were able to bounce back and finished third place in district 23–6A with a 9-5 district record.

When asked about the team’s turnaround in district play, Head Coach Dominic Amorosa said, “We got healthy and didn’t turn the ball over as much as we did early in the season.”

Throughout the season more and more players have contributed, leading to the Crusaders’ success. Senior guard Jordan Johnson has led the team in scoring while Edgar Romero and Harrison Bothe have led the team in three-point shooting, including some clutch late-game threes to propel the Crusaders to a win. In the paint, seniors Liam Dillon, Thomas Gordon, and Jack Smith have helped the Crusaders control the board and protect the rim.

The Crusaders take on the Clear Lake Falcons Tuesday night at Pearland high school in the opening round of the UIL 6A playoffs. The Falcons finished the regular season with a 27-6 record and placed second in their district.

When asked about the keys to winning the game, Amorosa said, “Number one, we have to rebound the ball, then we have to take care of the ball, and finally we have to make open shots.”

While the Falcons have been hot all season, the Crusaders will look to carry their momentum picked up throughout district play into the playoffs.