Sports
Middleton Tigers Fall in District Action
With a loss to Jesuit, Middleton caps off a losing season, but has more than a few reasons to be proud of what they have accomplished.
In the locker room following Wednesday night's season ending loss to the Jesuit, first year Middleton High School boys basketball coach Darius Ford faced a team that may have had a losing season, but one in which he did not want to feel defeated.
“I just told the guys to just keep their heads up," Ford said. "Even though we might not have had a winning season, they’re still winners because they finished what they started. By them staying and sticking it out, being there with me, not giving up on me — because I’m not giving up on them — that was a big thing to me.”
The Tigers (3-17) had their hands full all night long in the district match-up with a talented Jesuit squad, who established dominance early on their way to a blowout victory, 61-34.
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“Once again our shooting was our Achilles’ heel,” Ford said. “We couldn't knock down the open shots, and Jesuit did. And that was the difference in the game.”
Aydric Brown, one of the ten seniors that suited up their last game with the Tigers, knows that there was something more to the team than what the win-loss column might convey.
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“I think we play better than what our record is,” said Brown. “We did pretty good, we just needed to make more shots.”
To his seniors, Coach Ford’s message was clear, and it was about what lay ahead off the basketball court.
“Life doesn’t end here," Ford said. "Get your high school diploma, and we’ll work on getting them into school somewhere, whether it is on academics or athletics. And I told them that I love them. And I know they believe me, because they know I’m a straight shooter.”
As for tomorrow, it marks the start of preparations for next season for returning players. Off-season training means running with cross-country to build strengthen and endurance, and later returning to drills and summer league basketball. All in the name of putting a more competitive team on the court next season.
Jesuit (22-3) moves on to the district semi-finals Friday with hopes of advancing to the regional playoffs.
Jack Flemming sunk four 3-pointers for Jesuit, leading the team with 24 points.
“We are looking to come in here, beat Blake, make regionals, and hopefully make states,” said Flemming, sounding up to the task.