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Seven Lakes is a district champion for the first time since 2013-14. The Spartans are 32-4 heading into next week's playoffs.
Spartans’ district title a product of growth, change
KATY—If Seven Lakes senior guard Grant Van Hoozer doesn’t tear his ACL and miss his junior season last year, then sophomore guard A.J. Bates Jr. is on the JV and isn’t as advanced in his career as he is now.
If senior guard Tahaad Davis doesn’t go back home to California to stay with a parent last year, he probably doesn’t discover the focus and drive, from enduring a bad knee injury, that’s made him one of the top talents in the Greater Houston area this season.
If Van Hoozer and Davis are available last season, then senior forward Ethan Van Horn probably doesn’t get the opportunity and freedom to expand his perimeter game and develop into a consistent outside shooting post player.
“There’s a lot of moving pieces,” Seven Lakes coach Shannon Heston said. “It’s been awesome to see everyone’s growth.”
And if none of that happens, then the Spartans likely aren’t district champions for the first time since 2013-14. Seven Lakes is back on top following an eight-year hiatus after routing Taylor, last season’s district champ, 59-40 at home on Wednesday evening in each team’s district finale.
19-6A Final: @7LSpartanHoops 59, Taylor 40. Spartans are 32-4, 11-1. District champs for the first time since 2013-14. #txhshoops @SLHSABC @SpartanCrazies_ @KatyISDAthleticpic.twitter.com/hy4K10UE63— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1645063403
The Spartans are 32-4 and finished district play 11-1 heading into the bi-district playoffs next week. Davis scored a team-high 14 points against the Mustangs. Bates added 11 points, five rebounds, four assists. Van Horn had three points and five rebounds. Van Hoozer had five assists and three steals.
It was this same game last year that Taylor beat Seven Lakes, 69-39, to claim the district title outright and prevent a share of it with the Spartans.
“It feels good to get our get-back against Taylor,” Davis said. “No disrespect to Taylor, great game by them, but the disrespect they gave us last year when I wasn’t here … Coach Heston made us watch that today. He let us know that they called a timeout with 30 seconds left and started celebrating early. We didn’t take that lightly.”
.@7LSpartanHoops senior @taheeezzzyyy talks about the team securing its first outright district title since 2013\u201314 with tonight\u2019s win over Taylor. #txhshoops @SpartanCrazies_ @SLHSABC @KatyISDAthletic @kfinnesand @Tabchoops @RcsSportspic.twitter.com/4kvVznnxqM— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1645064930
A lot of inspiration was derived from last year’s meeting. With about 30 seconds left Wednesday, ahead by 19, Heston, too, returned the favor and called a timeout to allow his boys to start celebrating early.
“I credit last year’s failure and losing that big game for the district title,” Van Horn said. “We were a really young team, and we learned a lot. It really helped us this year, as far as us wanting it and knowing what to expect.
“Last year, we didn’t know how to take a team’s best punch. This year, we’ve been taking it the entire time and we learned how to roll with them.”
.@7LSpartanHoops senior @grantvanhoozer talks about the team securing its first outright district title since 2013\u201314 with tonight\u2019s win over Taylor. #txhshoops @SpartanCrazies_ @SLHSABC @KatyISDAthletic @kfinnesand @mvanhoozerpic.twitter.com/4KExDSCxyU— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1645065410
Heston said the district championship is a culmination of guys seeing their reward first-hand from all the time and work they’ve put in.
“A lot of times, if you’re willing to put in the work, it takes time to see the results,” Heston said. “That’s what we’ve been preaching for two years. We had really good success early last year that allowed a lot of buy-in from the kids coming into this year. We were able to build off it.”
The title is also a product of a drastic philosophical shift.
Under previous longtime coach Dan Miller, the Spartans were a defensive-minded, halfcourt-oriented team that wanted games played in the 40s. But with the program’s growing numbers and a rapidly evolving talent base, Heston switched to a more offensive identity last season.
Now he emphasizes pushing tempo and wants games at least in the 60s. Of the Spartans’ 32 wins, 26 have come with them scoring at least 60 points. They are undefeated when doing so.
“It was a smart switch,” Van Hoozer said. “Defense wins championships, but this is a team with a lot of good scorers. We have an offense that gets our crowd hyped. It gets our momentum going and really brings to the success of the team.”
The Spartans this season have reached a comfort zone with their newfound ways. There’s athleticism and rim-scrapers in Davis, Bates, and junior post Josh Akpovwa. There’s shooting in Bates, Van Hoozer, and Van Horn. There’s playmaking galore with Davis, Bates, and Van Hoozer.
“They’re back to being basketball players, instead of guys just trying to figure stuff out,” Heston said. “Now they’re going out, reacting and playing. You can tell in their speed of the game.”
.@7LSpartanHoops: district champions for the first time since 2013-14. The Spartans are 32-4 overall, finish 11-1 in 19-6A. #txhshoops @KatyISDAthletic @SLHSABC @SpartanCrazies_ @Tabchoopspic.twitter.com/dYKo7CHtW3— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1645063941
It’s a lot the Spartans have been through over the past two years. Almost like a movie with all the compelling storylines.
“It made it a lot more special for us,” Van Hoozer said. “My senior season was a lot more special for me because of my knee. ‘T’ (Davis) coming back. We have a lot of senior leadership on our bench, and it’s just the way we play together. Everybody is unselfish. Nobody tries to force anything. We have great team chemistry. We have a great locker room.”
The story, however, is far from over.
“It’s not done,” Davis said. “The job’s not finished.”
Seven Lakes sophomore A.J. Bates Jr.
Bates, Seven Lakes show mettle, take 1st in 19-6A
KATY—Seven Lakes’ boys basketball team was tested this week.
Were the Spartans really worthy of a state ranking? Was their talent legit or mere hype? Were they really as good as their gaudy record attested?
This week asked. And answered: Yes, it’s legit, and heck yes.
Seven Lakes routed Mayde Creek, 81-55, on Tuesday. The Rams were 3-0 in District 19-6A entering the game. Then, in a battle for sole possession of first place in district, the Spartans bested Cinco Ranch, 57-46, on Friday. The Cougars were 3-0 in district.
With two opportunities to show what it’s got, Seven Lakes (25-3, 4-0 19-6A) took care of business.
“A lot of people had us finishing fifth or sixth (in district), down at the bottom,” sophomore guard A.J. Bates Jr. said. “We’ve been showing teams we’re one of the best in Houston.”
Bates was the common denominator in both wins. He scored 26 points against Mayde Creek and followed that with 24 points, five rebounds and three assists against Cinco Ranch.
“My role’s changed,” the 6-foot-2, 170-pounder said. “Last year, I was a freshman, relying more on my passing ability and only scoring when I had to. This year, my role is everything. Scoring, passing, defending. It’s bigger. It’s evolved a lot, and over time it’s only going to get bigger and bigger.”
Bates had an impressive debut season last year. This year, he’s taken his game up a level.
He is a more confident, prolific shooter; he knocked down three of seven 3s against Cinco Ranch. He is more aggressive as a scorer, looking to create for himself.
.@Ajbates_24 is already 2-3 from 3 early as @7LSpartanHoops jumps out to a 9-0 lead. #txhshoops @SLHSABCpic.twitter.com/xjEVoSFjQP— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1642209457
“The kid works harder than anybody we have,” Spartans coach Shannon Heston said. “He costs me hours and hours of sleep. He’s up here Monday morning through Friday morning at 6 a.m., getting shots up. It’s no surprise the results he’s getting.”
But Bates’ substantial growth has come as a leader. On a team with 10 seniors, it is his voice that means, and says, the most.
Bates is demonstrative in his actions on the court. He is aware of score and clock, knowing when to take over or create for others. He is attentive to coaching and detail.
Bates won’t say it, but it’s clear the Spartans are his team. With the work he’s put in, he feels comfortable telling others what to do and what not to do.
“He’s an amazing example of what a leader should do,” said Heston, who said Bates is the team’s most improved player from a leadership standpoint. “When he says something, guys can’t do crap about it because they know he’s done it.”
Heston said it was clear after last year’s bi-district playoff loss to Fort Bend Travis that Bates had the chops to be great.
“We were getting annihilated by a better team,” Heston said. “Travis had grown men and we were a year away, honestly. In that game, A.J. went post-up, and that was our offense for four or five minutes because that was the only way we could score. This 6-foot, 160-pound freshman posting up and getting baskets against a great team. That clicked for me.
“That kid will do anything we ask and he’s not afraid of the moment or anybody. We looked at that and said, ‘Hey, that kid is special.’”
So, Heston helped Bates take the next step, which was becoming a leader, particularly vocally. Bates started taking ideas for plays to coaches, offering his input more and more. He makes adjustments in-game. Heston raves about his high basketball IQ.
Bates was handed the keys to the team. Heston wanted to see what he’d do with them.
Bates didn’t just drive. He picked up others along the way.
“I’m taking more of a leadership role, but I’m also listening more to other guys’ opinions,” Bates said. “On our team, there’s not just one leader. Everybody is a leader. We bounce ideas off each other. My leadership, their leadership … that’s what our success is built off of.”
.@Ajbates_24 steal and bucket. He\u2019s got 12 already in this 1Q. #txhshoops @SLHSABCpic.twitter.com/dXaKs4pvql— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1642209899
Seven Lakes is ranked No. 19 in Class 6A in the state, No. 9 in the Greater Houston area, not just because of Bates. He’s the headliner, yes, but the Spartans are a team of elite skill and quality depth.
The return of senior point guard Grant Van Hoozer from injury has been critical, giving the Spartans another 3-point threat, perimeter defender, and ballhandler. The return of senior guard Tahaad Davis after a one-year stay in California awards another scorer and athletic defender.
Senior forward Ethan Van Horn’s versatility is dynamic; his rebounding, passing, range shooting, and shot-blocking are exceptional. Junior Josh Akpovwa’s length and size inside is a nice luxury.
“I’ll take 25-3 in a heartbeat,” Heston said. “But going into each single game, I think we should win, and these guys feel they should win. Everyone in our locker room thinks we could be 28-0. That’s hard to do—we could be 20-8 as well—but we go into every game expecting to win and expecting to compete.
“Overall, I’m ecstatic. We expect success year in and year out, and we demand that from the kids. Being able to see it on the record is a lot of fun.”