Eagles capture Delta Valley Conference Championship to finish their year at 13-0
The West Bolivar Middle School Eagles wrapped up a dream season in basketball.
The Eagles ended up winning the Delta Valley Conference Boys Basketball Championship and finished their year with a perfect 13-0 record. In the DVC Tournament at Rosedale last week, the Eagles defeated West Tallahatchie on Dec. 31, Coahoma County 35-28 in the semifinals on Thursday (Jan. 2) and beat Shaw Middle School 37-30 in the championship game on Saturday (Jan. 4).
WBMS Head Boys Basketball Coach Cedric Armstrong couldn’t have been happier with the team’s play during the year.
“They played well through out the course of the season,” said Armstrong. “We had a few setbacks here and there as you’re dealing with 12 and 13-year-old boys, but we found a way to win games. I think the main thing for us is the work we did during the summer. Every last one of them showed up everyday during the summer at eight o’clock and worked out.”
Armstrong said the players knew how to stop opponents and displayed good teamwork on the court.
“They defended well and rebounded,” said Armstrong. “They played together. There were no egos and that’s hard especially when it comes to junior high kids. We had maybe two or three people that we looked to score every night, and the other ones were playing defense and rebounding.”
Armstrong is also the head coach of the West Bolivar High School boys team. West Bolivar Middle School played the same type of basketball as the high school team.
Armstrong was excited about the players from this team that will advance to the high school in the future.
“Their transition from junior high to high school should be fairly easy as far as terminology, plays, expectations and stuff like that,” said Armstrong. “I know at the high school level kids are usually bigger, faster and stronger, but they should be okay as far as knowing what I expect and what to do in certain situations. The sky is the limit for them if they can stick together, come in hungry and fight like they did all summer. This group could be really special.”
Assisting Armstrong on the coaching staff were Jaquesse Wilson, Ian Matthews and Devetrice Foster. Team members are Kaiden Brown, Monterick Reese, Jordan Walters, Colton Ellis, Gabriel Frank, Jr., Keaston Jones, Derontae Foster, Monquazius Reese, Jaylan Foster, Kaiden Lewis, Nataria Jennings, Dwaylan Bush, Kaison Houston and Taylor Foster.