Coaches Corner for February 18th: Brian Surratt, Madrid Boys Basketball

with us on coaches corner here in KWBG going to talk matter of boys basketball. Brian Surratt joining us. The Tigers get ready for central decatur coming up on Thursday night.

And Brian, we really haven't had a chance to talk yet because the pairings came out after our last coaches corner.

And so we didn't get a chance to talk about the pairings and something new this year, of course, is that the boys have kind of changed things around the district final will now be at the higher seed.

And so, uh, some changes that actually really benefit you guys this year, potentially. Yeah, it's really nice to finally get that opportunity to have a third home game. Um, something that we've, you know, we've all really wanted before in the past.

And that just hasn't kind of worked out that way, but, uh, the state, you know, listen here and I think it's getting more and more difficult to find, uh, people to host and so, uh, it just made sense to be able to keep it to the higher seeds.

And I feel like, you know, those one seeds, they have earned that right. To have that basketball game at their home venue. And, uh, so it's a great opportunity.

It gives you something to really strive for, not even just to be in the top eight, but now if you get in that top 16, you're getting, you know, you're guaranteed that extra home games, you're able to get there. And, uh, so I think it's a really good thing.

I know you're not looking for that district final game, but it's kind of fun always to pick your brain a little bit. Brian, do you feel like that more coaches really wanted to see that one seed, get that third potential game at home?

Yeah, I definitely think that that was the consensus that, uh, you know, we're playing all season, you know, for opportunities to position ourselves, uh, it needed to be more than just, uh, you know, those top eight people that get that, you know, get the, uh, better seating, I guess you could say, but now I know not only can you get into the top eight and get a home game, an extra home game, but now you can get in the top 16 and get an extra home game.

So it created more opportunity for, uh, a lot of teams to be able to play for something a little different than maybe they have in the past. And, um, so I think, you know, for, from a coach's perspective, this is what we wanted and then, uh, we finally got that.

I know Colfax Mingo, uh, boy, they hung around, had some, had some interesting shots that went in that to kind of be, I like to call pesky and just kind of kept, kept keeping things a little bit close.

It was nice to see you guys in that third quarter really kind of feel like you were flowing a lot better and better shot opportunities. Brian, is that kind of what you saw on Monday night, uh, from the district win? Yeah, I think, uh, you know, there are several factors in it.

Uh, we had a week off, uh, from playing and that usually is a little sluggish. Uh, maybe it didn't look like we were quite in tip top shape either. Uh, they played on a Friday night, you know, just a couple of days before that.

So they kind of had shaken that rust off or maybe never even got to the point where they had that.

Um, so I, you know, we came out and we were a little flat and they were full of energy and you know, it's one thing I always tell the kids, I'm like, if you give, you know, a team confidence early, they're going to hang around and make things difficult, you know, you have to come out focused and ready to go and, uh, you know, shut them down early, make them doubt themselves a little bit and try to capitalize on it so that you're playing with the lead instead of, you know, playing behind or, uh, a number that's reachable and that somebody feels like they can still stay in the game.

If they just keep working hard.

And, uh, that was kind of a little bit of the case, uh, on Monday, but you know, and the other factor is they made shots, you know, and that's something you got to do if you want to upset somebody or being a big basketball game, you got to make, make shots.

And so they did a good job of that in the first half and the second half. Uh, we just kind of took over and did what we do and, uh, turned out to be a nice victory. Well, and I'll tell you what that, you know, we talked about making shots. You guys definitely did that.

I mean, 33 field goals that went down and Jevon Severson, uh, 39 points. I know he works really hard, so hopefully he doesn't take offense when I say this, but Brian, there are times he gets down in the block that it just looks effortless. I know you see it every day at practice.

I know you've seen it now for two years. He makes it look easy sometimes. And I know it's not. Yeah, he is just a different kind of athlete. Um, I don't know how you describe it.

Just some guys that are next level, uh, not only with just how, how he can jump, but a guy with that size and his footwork is the way he moves and can control his body, um, that's what separates Jevon from, uh, just the other good basketball players or good athletes, good football players, uh, it's his ability to control his body and to be able to, uh, play like a smaller guy and a big guy's body.

And, uh, you know, that, that's such a huge advantage for us because there's so many things that he can do. Um, you know, he's a high end, uh, football recruit. If he had chosen to, he probably would be high end basketball recruit as well.

Um, but you know, football is going to probably be his path and, uh, we're happy with the work that he does put in with us. And it translates into what he's doing in basketball games.

And you know, that's the guy that continues to play basketball and continues to work on his game, even though it's not his first choice. And, uh, that says a lot about Jevon who he is a person and an athlete and a competitor.

I'll tell you what, Brian, I was really impressed with Max Fowler. I thought Fowler had a great night for, he ended up with a nine points, eight rebounds, I think he had four or five assists, a couple of steals in there.

I mean, Fowler is somebody I think not just tomorrow night and hopefully more games afterward, he's going to be important down the stretch. Yeah. Max is, uh, what I call the X factor on our basketball team. Uh, we talk about Jevon and his, you know, elite abilities.

Max is a guy that has similar attributes. Uh, if Max wanted to put, you know, some more time in and, and really, you know, play with a lot of confidence, this guy is the limit for him.

Um, you know, as, as he goes here in the future, we're going to go, we're either going to become, you know, continue to be a good basketball team, or if, if he's able to take his game to the next level, we will become an elite basketball team.

He possesses so much natural ability, uh, things that you can't teach. Um, a lot of it is just, he needs more experience and to build confidence into, you know, who he is, the basketball player and, and, and what his game is going to be moving forward.

And, you know, I, I'm really happy that we have Max on our team because, I mean, he, he can be an elite basketball player and, and you see it in moments.

And, uh, he just needs to continue to believe that he's capable of doing those things and, and hopefully he'll keep building on this and have a great future. Brian will let you go on this.

Uh, give us a quick scouting report on central Decatur, which is your next opponent tomorrow night. Yeah. They have a good size, you know, that's something that. Uh, will be different for us. Cause usually we have a pretty good advantage there.

Um, they can negate some of our size, uh, good basketball team and plays very hard. And they know what they want to do and they do that. And, uh, they're going to be, uh, you know, a very difficult opponent for us. And if we come out flat, we're going to be in a world of trouble.

So hopefully our kids will be focused and, and know what, what it is that we want to do and, and take care of the basketball and go out and execute and be able to come out of this one with a victory. Brian is always thank you so much for some time. Best of luck tomorrow night.

We'll see you over in Madrid. All right. Thanks, Brian. You bet Brian's right. Again, joining us, Madrid boys, basketball here in coaches corner.