Dragons split opening week of district competition

The Carroll boys basketball team split its games last week to move to 1-1 in district play, and coach Eric McDade said that he thinks his team is competing well as the district season gets underway.

The Dragons played Euless Trinity on Tuesday after the press deadline and will travel to Colleyville Heritage at 8 p.m. on Friday to take on the Panthers in a game McDade said should be a dog fight from the very beginning.

“I think that Heritage is playing well, and their kids are playing with a lot of confidence,” McDade said. “It will be important that we go over there ready to roll and understanding what we're walking into. We'll have to be well prepared, which I think we will be.”

Carroll defeated Coppell 62-50 last Tuesday to open up district play, and McDade said his team looked pretty good all the way around.

“We played pretty good, coming off of the Christmas break and having a district opener against a tough team like Coppell,” McDade said. “Being at home, it was an important game to make sure we took care of. It was a hard-fought battle. They had us down by a couple of points at half time, and we came back and responded with a great second half. It was great to get out of there with a win.”

Carroll followed that up with a 65-52 loss at Richland, and McDade said that there were some issues.

“I think it really shows the parity of our league,” McDade said. “Coach (Richard) Bacon does a great job over there, and a lot of these games come down to three or four possessions. That one really did. It was a two- or three-point game in the second half, and then they made some plays at the end and pulled away.

“Their kids came ready to battle. We've got to respond and bounce back this week with two tough district games on Tuesday and Friday.”

McDade said that his team is doing a number of things well early on in the district season.

“Right now, we are just continuing to build on what we have done throughout the season,” he said. “It's a work in progress. I think our defense is improving, and our play on the offensive end in terms of how we share the ball and how we can hurt teams in multiple ways with multiple guys really gives us an advantage.”

McDade has always stressed the importance of Carroll winning its home games and stealing some games on the road in district, and with the parity and strength of this year's district, the Carroll coach said that is more important than ever.

“It's really important,” McDade said. “Any time you are in a league like this, you've just got to make sure you take care of your business at home and take what you can on the road. The big thing is don't stub your toe with the home games.

“I feel like, as far as it lays out, we are in pretty good shape in terms of who we face at home in the second half of district. We just have to go out there and take care of business.”

This story was originally published January 12, 2015 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Dragons split opening week of district competition."