Even though the 2016-17 basketball season did not net another trip to the state tournament for Atascocita’s boys basketball program, by and large, the Eagles have a lot to be thankful for.
Despite losing much of their roster from the 2015-16 team that went undefeated until the state title game and losing eight games before the calendar flipped to 2017, the Eagles won District 21-6A with just one loss.
They then won three games in the playoffs before losing to eventual state champion Cy-Falls.
That success was once again reflected in the 21-6A All-District awards.
For the third straight year, Eagles coach David Martinez took home 21-6A Coach of the Year honors. It’s his fourth straight district crown and his sixth in the last seven years.
The district’s MVP award went to an Eagle once again; the previous two years, current Purdue University starter Carsen Edwards won the award. This year, it went to University of Houston signee Fabian White.
To boot, Joe Rollins took home Newcomer of the Year honors, making it a clean Eagle sweep of the top three district awards.
Rollins was also nominated for the district’s first team, along with junior Kobe Wilson. In addition, junior Devin Harrison was named to the district’s second team.
The Kingwood Mustangs had solid representation in the awards as well, reflected in their play this year; they finished second in 21-6A behind the Eagles, snapped Atascocita’s 53-game district win streak and won two playoff games.
Most notably, it was two Kingwood seniors who took the top awards as Brandon Burrell and Chase Lovins, the man who hit the game-winning shot against Atascocita, took home first team honors.
In addition, junior Matt Charles took home a second team selection.
