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So, now they are the hunted instead of the hunter.
“Trust me, we aren’t looking past what is right in front of us,” he said. “Here’s why. We were trying so hard to beat North Shore in those state games, and lost. Eventually, we beat them. These teams in front of us are the same way. They are trying to knock us off like we were with North Shore. There are only really good teams left and we respect our opponents”
The Panthers are freakishly talented with the likes of QB Keelon Russell (SMU-commit) RB Caden Durham (LSU-commit), WR Dakorien Moore (LSU-commit), OL (Baylor-commit) DE Colin Simmons (Texas-commit), DT Alex January (Texas-commit), DB Ka’Davion Dotson (SMU-commit) walking the hallways. There is nearly a dozen more college commits on the way.
“We try and keep the outside noise to a minimum,” he said. “Yes, there are college recruiters here all the time, but we try and limit the distractions during the season, especially in the playoffs. You can have a bunch of great players, but if you don’t win, that doesn’t build a program. We are here to get kids recruited and we do a great job of that, but when it comes down to it, we’re also here to win ball games for Duncanville High School.”
The star of the Panther Den on the offensive side of the ball is Caden Durham, who has over 1,500 yards and 21 scores for the season. When the Panthers need a big play, he’s the guy.
“Caden started off slow and didn’t have those big stats, because we didn’t need that early on. We were winning by large margins,” Samples said. “In a lot of games, we pulled him by halftime because we knew we were going to need him later. He didn’t pout or anything, he just stayed positive. He’s a winner and all the great ones have another gear. He certainly does. When we have needed plays when the games count, he’s the guy that wants the ball and he delivers.”
With an explosive offense that is averaging nearly 50 points per game, the offense is equally as dynamic. The Panthers are only giving up 10 points a game and are punishing teams.
“We hang our hat on defense and being physical,” Samples said. “I’ve always leaned to the defense side of the ball and I believe defense wins championships.
“When those guys who now star on defense for us came into the program, we could easily have put them on the offensive side of the ball. They would have been really good, but we think put them in the right spot. I think they would agree.”
Unfortunately, so would their opponents.
So, how will Duncanville handle being the defending state champs as the postseason whittles down? With an unmatched swagger and the experience winning their first under Coach Samples, more dangerous than ever before.
Fort Bend Austin's Shun'teria Anumele
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The 5-foot-9 combo guard Shun’teria Anumele transferred from Brookshire Royal to join the Bulldogs for her senior season. While that might seem like a daunting task for some, that isn’t the case for her.
“It’s been really good so far, they’ve made it easy for me,” she said. “On some teams you don’t really gel together because of ego, but with this group it’s not like that at all. We all want to see each other win and we’ve been playing great together.”
“Great” would be an understatement.
The stars of 2023-24 Fort Bend Austin Girls Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Since combining forces with the likes of Andrea Sturdivant (Jr. G), Crystal Schultz (Sr. G), Aminah Dixon (Jr. G), and Pfieffer Greene (Fr. F), FB Austin is now 12-1 (3-0 in district) through their first 13 games.
Anumele in particular is already averaging over a whopping 26 points a game, in addition to the 3 assists and 4 steals per match she tallies.
It’s evident that something is working.
“For us, our strength has been our defense and our communication,” said Anumele. “Some of the girls on the team are talented but they’re young, so for them it’s a mental thing. For upperclassmen like myself, we have to help them to understand that the game is both physical and mental. If they can follow what the coach is telling us and the example we try to set, then everything will be alright.”
Anumele sets quite the example, now that she committed to Saint Louis University earlier in November.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“I committed to Saint Louis because of the genuine vibes I got from coach Tillet as soon as I got onto the campus,” she said. “She saw me play one time and she just knew from there that I was a kid that she could see playing for her program.”
“I’m definitely going to be homesick when I get there, but I know it’ll be for the better. It will be a hard adjustment, but I know my family will come visit, and it’s for my career, so that’s what matters.”
The soon-to-be Saint Louis Billiken models her game after her favorite player, LeBron James, and the athleticism that she brings has already begun to pay dividends for her and the AHS Bulldogs.
Watch out for them as the season progresses.
Cinco Ranch's Kassidy O'Brien
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Cinco Ranch’s junior setter put up her best stat-line to date (1,385 assists, 388 digs, 137 kills) over the course of the Fall season which resulted in the team reaching the State Final for the first time in program history.
Despite her individual accomplishments which also earned her an All-State Tournament nod, O’Brien conceded that she didn’t do it alone.
“I was very blessed,” she said. “We have a great group of girls, and we all just have a great connection. Being able to lead the team, not just by setting, but through the mental aspect – having everyone on the same page – was a responsibility I cherish. But I wouldn't be where I was without my teammates and their performances. It’s been one heck of a ride.”
Photo provided by Kassidy O'Brien
She and her teammates enjoyed the full “state experience” when they were sent off to Garland, TX this past month for the tournament.
“It was really cool,” said O’Brien. “We walked through the halls and all the students were out cheering for us. We had this charter bus that passed by all the junior high schools that feed into Cinco, and their students were there waving and holding signs. That kind of support for us was something else.”
The Cougars would ultimately come home with silver medals around their necks, after their bout with Grand Oaks in the title game. However, that doesn’t dismiss the fact that O’Brien and co. set a new precedent for the program.
Since then, O’Brien recently got the chance to make her official visit with her future team at the University of Kentucky, where she got to witness the group become SEC champions.
Photo provided by Kassidy O'Brien
“The visit was amazing,” she said. “The coaches are wonderful there, and being able to witness them compete in their last game to win the championship was crazy to watch in person. Seeing all the feels in the atmosphere was really reminiscent of what we (Cinco Ranch) had. We also did some other fun things like go around campus and visit the Keeneland horse-racing track, so it was all kind of an overwhelming experience.”
The good news for Cinco Ranch is that O’Brien, along with various other key players, such as Gabriella Martinez and Maggie Finnegan, have another year to play before they graduate and move on to their respective colleges.
So, what’s next for the Cougars?
“We’re definitely going to have to rebuild a little bit next season, because we’re losing some big players, like Makenna (Loo), Ariana (Willis), Shea (Rainosek), and Emily (Killam) to graduation,” O’Brien said.
“But, I think going forward, and remembering how far that we made it is going to be a big piece in our advancement. Since we did go so far, people are still going to be coming for us because they know what we’re capable of.”
With that mentality, who’s to say that Cinco can’t do it again a year from now?
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