For a couple of seconds, Llano High School boys basketball head coach Landry Norwood chuckled at the question.
Do you have the best winless team in District 5-3A?
“I truly believe, so, yes,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. “We’ve been playing some great teams. We’ve had a tough schedule. They all have winning records. We’ve had a very, very tough schedule, and it’s making us better.”
The Yellow Jackets had another three-game stretch where games were decided by a couple of possessions: Milano 48-47, Caldwell 7570, both on Dec. 28 at the Mumford tournament, and Bandera 56-55 Jan. 3. They also lost to Stephenville 5932 Jan. 6.
Llano was down by double digits in all three but fought back thanks to recommitting to playing shutdown defense and working for high-percentage shots on offense. Opponents didn’t allow the Jackets to score baskets on fastbreaks. So they had to set up their half-court offensive sets and work together to find the open teammate.
That dedication to working as a unit where the players are showing they trust each other to do their individual jobs by working the playbook is why Norwood believes the season is on the brink of turning in his team’s favor. The loss to Caldwell best illustrates this point. Llano had four players in double figures: junior post Konrad Zwicke scored 16 points, senior post Carl Schutte and senior forward Jaxon Johnson each added 13, and sophomore post Cole Kennedy had 11.
“We’re battle tested,” Norwood said. “It makes me feel better. This team has a lot of fight in them. Being in those one-score games or one or two possession games and getting that experience – we’re starting to hit our stride. Those three games reflect our potential.”
And it’s coming at the right time. The Jackets welcome Florence Friday, Jan. 10, in the district opener then host Comfort Tuesday, Jan. 14. Junior varsity black plays at 5 p.m., junior varsity orange competes at 6:15 p.m. and the varsity at 7:30 p.m.
Unlike last year where Llano was the favorite to repeat as the district champions, this year’s district looks to have more parity.
“It’s definitely very even,” Norwood said. “It’ll be a dogfight every game.”
And though he knows several of his players, most of whom made their varsity debuts Dec. 10 when their opponents already had been playing for a month, may not have the familiarity of what it’s like to play in a varsity district contest, the coach maintains they have the tools to turn those one- or two-possession losses into wins and more.
“You won’t take any games for granted,” he said. “(Earning a playoff berth will) be who executes the game plan and who finds a way to win. It’ll be who’s willing to give more effort and executes to win. They’re really looking forward to district. They’re excited, they’re ready to go.”
