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The new standard: Postseason-bound Boyd sees record success
By Richard C. White, rwhite@starlocalnews.com
It's been quite the roller coaster season for the McKinney Boyd boys basketball team.
By winning their last three district games, the Broncos clinched the fourth and final District 10-5A playoff spot, which marks the first time in program history that the Broncos have made the playoffs. Boyd will face Richardson Berkner 7:30 p.m. Tuesday from Naaman Forest High School in the bi-district round.
"It's quite a milestone for our program," said Dean Christian, Boyd head coach. "It's the first time we've made the playoffs and we're extremely happy and proud of our young men. There were times we could have folded our tent and gone home, but we did what it took and closed out the district schedule in fine fashion and were able to make a move on that last playoff spot."
"It's an exciting time for our program," he said. "This group has accomplished a lot. Last year they won 19 and the year before they won 11. They've improved every year."
The Broncos' success is made all the more special considering their senior-heavy roster, as 11 of Boyd's 14 players are seniors who have played their entire high schools careers for this opportunity.
"It's quite an accomplishment," Christian said. "This has been a goal of theirs for the last three years. This group, from the time I've known them, they've put in the work needed to accomplish this feat. I'm really proud of them and glad that all of their hard work has paid off."
Boyd's season has been anything but dull. The Broncos began the year with a dominant 16-3 record in non-district play and were expected by many to be among the district's top teams. Boyd, however, would struggle in district, going 0-4 to start before regrouping to win four of their last six to make the playoffs.
"We handled the non-district very well," Christian said. "Then we had district, which was a step up in intensity and play. It took some adjustment on our part and we were finally able to make those adjustments and get our game to where we could win and be successful, and now we're fortunate enough to be in that third season, getting ready for the playoffs. This is again another level of intensity that requires even more adjustments that we have to make."
Christian credits Boyd's late-season turnaround to the clutch play of seniors Mikel Parish, Michael Grant and Martez Butler.
"Our seniors rallied," he said. "Mikel had to adjust his game to score more, which he did. And we had to ask Michael to step up his scoring and aggressiveness on the offensive end and he did. And Martez also picked up his game. He was as good as anybody inside and he scored really well and played tough for us down the stretch."
The Broncos will face a familiar foe in their Tuesday nigh playoff opener. Boyd had previously beaten Richardson Berkner, 58-50, Dec. 4.
"We played them earlier this season, but they're definitely not the same team," Christian said. "They're very talented and have some primary high Division I signees. We expect a tough game. I expect them to try to get up and down the floor and dominate the boards on us. It's going to be a tough contest."
While he admits this won't be the same Berkner team Boyd faced more than two months ago, Christian is aware that their previous success is an added bonus in the Broncos' upset efforts as they take on a top-seeded district champion in their playoff opener.
"We're looking forward to it," he said. "We couldn't be happier for the position we're in. We know they're going to be different, but the fact that we know we can play at this level, we know we've done it before, that's a feather in our cap, especially after how far back we had to come to get to this spot."
Having to win their last three games has served as a powerful momentum boost for Boyd, who Christian believes is peaking at just the right time.
"We do have some momentum," he said. "More importantly, we feel we're peaking at the right time. Our team is gelling and we're playing good basketball and that's a big plus for us. We're fortunate to have these good feelings heading into this game."
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