The last few years, the postseason has not been kind to Mount View with some heartbreaking losses.
Now returning a senior-laden group, Golden Knights head coach Gary Brown is hoping those frustrations spurn his team to new heights.
“We have quite a few seniors that have played for four years. We think if they work hard on improving a couple of areas this year, that we could be pretty decent,” Brown said. “We always tell our kids that our goal is to win the next possession. If we can every possession, then we can be fairly decent. If we do that, the other things, likes wins, will fall in line.”
Tony Bailey, Malaki Bishop, Brendon Rotenberry, Chris Jackson, Justin Haggerty and T.J. Bell are experienced players that Brown feels will need to play well for his team to be successful this year.
“We just have to be more mentally focused on doing our individual jobs. The little things that has to be done to win ballgames. The seniors should be able to do that. We are hoping that they play hard and aggressive,” Brown said.
Last year’s biggest heartbreaking loss came in the sectional semifinal game against Greater Beckley Christian.
“I think last year, Covid kinda hurt us, of course. We didn’t shoot the ball quite as well as I thought we should have been able to, especially from the free throw line,” Brown said. “We shot the ball very poorly from the free throw line and that cost us a few game. I think it even cost us the sectional semifinal. We were like 5-for-19 and the game went into overtime.”
Mount View will have a total of eight seniors that have been through the battle including some juniors like Jaylen Hall that Brown feels will get some quality minutes.
“It mostly depends on how we are playing, but we can probably play nine or 10 kids if we have to,” Brown said. “We have several guys with some experience, but we will just have to see how things unfold.”
As it has been in years past, the Golden Knights will not be short on athleticism, but Brown feel his teams success has to go much deeper that just have athletes on the floor.
“We are quick, but I am not sure how fast we are, really. My biggest thing right now is for them to play with some savvy and some knowledge of the game. You have to make quality plays to win ballgames,” Brown said. “Sometimes it is not about skill, but about being in the right position at the right time. They need to have a passion for the fundamentals and do things correctly. I think that would put us in a position where we can win.”
Like most coaches however, Brown feels ultimately for his team to be successful, success will revolve around defense.
“We could be could be good defensively. Defense is predicated on helping each other and being where you are supposed to be,” Brown said. “Sometimes we teach and coach, but not all players buy-in. As seniors we are hoping that everybody buys in. I think that is what we have to hang our hat on is being a very strong defensive team because we are not that big.”
While Brown agrees the tough losses in the past will drive his team, he also thinks the success on gridiron this year will be helpful.
“We are hoping that the success during football season helps us. Winning is contagious and it breeds a desire to win. We hope some of that success carries over,” Brown said. “We will just focus on trying to win every possession and let the chips fall where they may.”
