Mineral Wells Area News

By DAVID MAY

Special to Mineral Wells Area News

STAMFORD – Their season brought to an end, the Mineral Wells Rams signaled new beginnings for the boys’ basketball program.

The Rams led most of Tuesday’s opening bi-district round game against the Levelland Lobos but ran out of gas in the final stanza, falling 63-53. It was Mineral Wells’ first post-season action since 2017 after finishing third in District 6-4A. The Lobos were the second-place team in District 5-4A.

Mineral Wells led after each of the first three quarters, including leading 42-39 entering the final period. But Levelland outscored the Rams by 13 in the period to advance.

“Our team played a great game for three quarters,” said first-year Rams head coach Taylor Luster. “We just did not have enough to finish the game and I think our lack of playoff experience in pressure situations hurt us most down the stretch. That and we did not defend at the levels we defended at in the first three quarters.”

Jaidun Fisher and Ben Bullock each canned a three-ball, while Preztynn Harrison and Kayden Montalvo had a pair of field goals each to help stake Mineral Wells to an 18-15 lead after the opening quarter. Harrison and Ryan Hunt had two baskets in the second period as the Rams went to the break up 33-24.

The Lobos began turning the game around in the third, outscoring Mineral Wells, 15-9, to close to within three points before out-gunning the Rams 24-11 in the fourth on their way to the 10-point win.

Mineral Wells finished the season 9-27 overall, including a 4-4 district record. Levelland improved to 18-17 and will face Krum in the area round. The Lobos went 8-3 in their district.

Early in the season, the Rams seemed among the longest of longshots to end their playoff drought. Mineral Wells opened the season with five losses as they worked to learn Luster’s system and style. They picked up three wins in their next six games, but then lost their next 13 games, including their first two district contests.

Luster said while the Rams were being defeated, they were not dismayed and remained focused on a goal of making the playoffs. They would have to finish at least fourth in district to qualify.

“From our very first shootout of the year at Hardin Simmons in September, I told my kids that we would be OK and we will make a playoff push,” Luster told MWAN. “In that fall preseason tournament, I played with only four varsity players and the rest were incoming freshman. None of those games were close in the fall but I told them if they continue to show up and work, it will pay off at the end.”

The team’s motto this season was “BeUncommon,” which is comprised of relentless effort, high energy, discipline and togetherness. 

“Being Uncommon has nothing to do with talent, it takes being committed to the little things,” Luster explained. “Once we had our full team for the season it was a process. I had to correct a lot of non-basketball issues, attitudes, team chemistry, expectations and accountability. Then I had to rebuild a foundation of basketball skills, which is all we did from the month of October through the beginning of December. Once they started to get better in the basics of basketball, I was then able to implement more advanced concepts.”

The team had a successful Poolville tournament and Luster said he delivered a message to the team.

“I told them every lesson brings a blessing,” he said. “I did not know what or when that blessing would be, but I told them that if you keep believing and showing up every day, you’ll receive it.”

The coach said he could see team chemistry begin to develop. Their last non-district game was an overtime loss to Bridgeport. The next day Bullock, one of five seniors, told Luster no one had given up. Luster called on leadership from Bullock to help hold the team together as the beginning of district games meant everyone was 0-0 to start the second season.

The Rams were just 5-22 and about to open their district slate with two ranked teams in Glen Rose and Graham. Mineral Wells lost both those games, but turned around and won their next two, defeating Stephenville and Brownwood. The second half of the district schedule followed suit – losses to Glen Rose and Graham and wins against Stephenville and Brownwood.

“Once district started these kids gelled and believed in one another and you could see it in their play and fight every day,” Luster said. “I attribute our district run to the kids and my assistant coaches. They believed in one another and learned how to lean on one another rather than wait for me to push them. They came together as a team.”

Luster said the players and coaches were the only ones who believed the team could come together and make the playoffs. He said proving themselves right made this season “special.”

“This will carry momentum into the off-season because they got an opportunity to get a taste of the playoff atmosphere,” he said. “The off-season will be difficult and they will be tested in ways they have never been tested before. We will play a lot of tournaments and leagues this off-season. We will also focus a lot on strength and agility to help make them higher-level athletes. This district knows what Mineral Wells is capable of and we need to be ready to show them that we belong in the conversation to make a run. Our schedule will be tough just like it was this year to help prepare them for district just like we did this past year.”

Along with Bullock, other Rams seniors who played their final high school game are Jordan Fisher, Ryan Hunt, Logan Houston and Deshaun Davis.