Brody Bazirgan ’25

---

This year both Jesuit JV Basketball teams had fantastic seasons.

 Our JV White team, coached by Dr. Dan Martinez, went 17-5 overall and won 23-6A District Championship with a record of 11-1 (along with our district champions Freshman White and co-champions Freshman Green). JV White’s sole loss within our district came at the hands of Alief Hasting, a JV A team, against which the Crusaders put up a good fight. Unfortunately, the JV White team was unable to play rival Shadow Creek due to multiple injuries for the Sharks. 

Dr. Martinez said he was very happy with how our team played against two other very good programs in Dawson and Pearland, which had both given our JV White teams problems in the past. This year the Crusaders swept both teams.

“I feel like I really got better as a player,” Matt Ilic ’25 said, “and that comes from playing with competitive guys. I’m glad we had games where we blew teams out, and I’m also glad we played in some close games. It really tests you as a player and as a team.”

In addition to winning, team chemistry was highly valued as well.

“Playing with a really good group of guys is way better than having a successful season,” Hudson Ballow ’25 said. “Even though we had both, I still believe that I’m gonna remember my teammates way more than our record.” 

Strake’s other JV team, the Green Team, coached by Mr. Reid Linden, went 16-9 overall with a 10-3 district record.  They lost these games by an average of only 4 points, playing almost every team right down to the buzzer. 

“They are competitive and demonstrated that many times over,” Mr. Linden said, “and that is a lot of what we ask from our guys.”

The season was marked by many impressive achievements, including noteworthy performances by sophomores.

“Bryson Easley hit a half-court buzzer beater to end the first half of one of our later games,” Mr. Linden said. “Carter Field hit two huge threes against Pearland that gave us a lot of breathing room going into halftime, Quade Gomez put on a clinic against Alief Taylor to the tune of 25 points.”

Mr. Linden said that the such great memories were almost too numerous to recall.

At the end of the season both coaches expressed pride in their teams and hope that some of these players will contribute in the future to our varsity team. As this season proves, our sub-varsity teams do an excellent job of developing athletes to play at the next level.