PRESEASON SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR TEXAS CITY’S CLOVIS MCCAIN JR. FRIENDSWOOD’S OLIVIA SCHMIDT GALVESTON COUNTY | 2022 PRESEASON BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEARJoinusaswecheeronourstudentathletesinbasketball,swim,andsoccer. Visitgisdathletics.comforschedules. www.gisd.org Here’s the deal: When you go with State Farm®, you get a local agent that can deliver Good Neighbor service at surprisingly great rates. Give me a call. Proud to support Friendswood Mustang soccer. I n the fall, The Daily News sports department dipped our proverbial toes into new water by incorporating volleyball with football for a seasonal sports preview. For this publication, it was somewhat uncharted territory as we put together this season’s preview for local high school basketball and soccer teams. To cover the sheer volume of all these teams, surveys were sent out to the teams’ coaches for some information on what fans can expect in their upcoming seasons. For the most part, the response was great, but if you don’t see your favorite team covered here, it’s because The Daily News never received a response back for that team in question. Like with the fall sports preview from a few months ago, we’ll also highlight a player from each sport as that sport’s Galveston County preseason player of the year. So, with all that said, from the hardwood to the pitch, please enjoy our 2022-23 Galveston County Winter Sports Preview. WINTER IS COMING FROM THE SPORTS EDITOR INSIDE: TEAM PREVIEWS CLEAR CREEK Boys Soccer: 9 CLEAR FALLS Boys Basketball: 4 Boys Soccer: 9 CLEAR SPRINGS Boys Basketball: 4 Boys Soccer: 9 Girls Soccer: 9 DICKINSON Girls Basketball: 4 Girls Soccer: 9 BALL HIGH Boys Basketball: 5 Girls Basketball: 5 Girls Soccer: 10 FRIENDSWOOD Boys Soccer: 10 Girls Soccer: 10 SANTA FE Boys Basketball: 5 Boys Soccer: 10 Girls Soccer: 10 TEXAS CITY Boys Basketball: 5 Boys Soccer: 10 Girls Soccer: 10 LA MARQUE Boys Basketball: 6 Boys Soccer: 10 HITCHCOCK Boys Basketball: 6 Girls Basketball: 6 O’CONNELL Boys Basketball: 7 Previews written by JAMES LACOMBE The Daily News JAMES LACOMBE 2 | The Daily News | Winter Sports Preview | October 2022 THE NEWS YOU WANT DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX GALVNEWS.COM/NEWSLETTERSCheck out our Google and Facebook reviews online then call us! 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October 2022 | Winter Sports Preview | The Daily News | 3 A varsity letterman since his sophomore year, versatile Texas City forward Clovis McCain Jr. has been an impactful player throughout his Stings career, and now should be primed for a special 2022-23 campaign as a senior — making him The Daily News’ choice for preseason basketball player of the year. “He’s an exciting, unselfish player, and I think people and other coaches are going to enjoy watching him play,” Texas City head boys basketball coach Chris Mason said. “From what I’ve seen in the preseason, he’s definitely as advertised.” Last season, the 6-foot-5 McCain was the clear go-to player for the Stings, with his 20.7 points per game accounting for nearly half of his team’s total points per game (54.6). No other Texas City player averaged more than 7.0 points per game. “It’s hard to improve on 20 and 10, especially in a system like mine where we don’t jack up a lot of shots, but if there’s one person who can do that, it’s him,” Mason said. “He’s going to play all over the court for us, and I’m expecting really, really big things. … He’s going to be our best 3-point shooter on the team. He’s also able to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket on bigger people, and he’s going to post up on smaller people. People are seeing that he can score on all three levels — he can get the 3, he can get to the basket, and he can hit the mid-range.” McCain also cleaned up the boards nicely with 8.5 rebounds per game, and he was statistically Texas City’s top defensive player, as well, averaging 2.6 steals per game and 2.1 blocks per game. In all three of those categories, McCain averaged more than double the output of his next-best teammates. “He’s one of the best defenders that I’ve ever had,” Mason said. “He anticipates the passing lane, he blocks a lot of shots, and he wants to guard the toughest person on the court.” Playing in a ruggedly difficult district last season, McCain led the Stings to a playoff berth, but once there, they ran into eventual Class 5A state champions Beaumont United. On top of coming into the new season as a reigning all-county first-team player, McCain also enters the 2022-23 campaign as last year’s district offensive player of the year and also with an all-region distinction. TEXAS CITY SENIOR STANDOUT GIVES STINGS WELL-ROUNDED WEAPON CLOVIS MCCAIN JR. PRESEASON BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR Story by JAMES LACOMBE | The Daily News STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Texas City’s Clovis McCain puts up a shot against Ball High’s Josh Blanks during the second quarter Jan. 21, 2021, at Texas City High School.4 | The Daily News | Winter Sports Preview | October 2022 DISTRICT 24-6A BASKETBALL CLEAR FALLS BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Blake Shelton (second season) 2021-22 RECORD: 24-10, 8-4 in district (reached second round of playoffs) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 7 lettermen/4 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: Orlando Horton is one of the top-ranked players in the area and the Knights are hoping he has an MVP-caliber season. His speed and ability to score is something you simply can’t teach. He is the team’s go-to guy. Javon Murray has developed into a very important piece for Clear Falls with a great touch around the rim and is active on the boards. He has developed an outside shot as well and even a bit of a decent handle. TEAM STRENGTHS: Speed and size. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Clear Falls’ Orlando Horton Jr. leaps to the hoop Feb. 22 against Strake Jesuit’s Drayton Jones in Houston. CLEAR SPRINGS DICKINSON GIRLS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Toya Peterson (first season) 2021-22 RECORD: 16-15, 5-7 in district RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 4 starters/ lots of 4-year lettermen KEY PLAYERS: Senior Danielle “DD” Porter guards the basket well, is very active at the rim and has great energy. Sophomore Jazmine Hansley is very skilled on offense and defense, and has great court vision. TEAM STRENGTHS: Lots of veterans and great team cohesion. BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Chris Hairfield (ninth season) 2021-22 RECORD: 18-15, 6-6 in district (reached first round of playoffs) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 5 lettermen/2 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: Alec Belter was last year’s newcomer of the year; he has had a great offseason and works extremely hard, head coach Chris Hairfield said. “David Emelife and Ricky Young are two others who have had great offseasons and will step into much larger roles this year,” Hairfield said. TEAM STRENGTHS: Continuity. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photo Clear Springs’ Alec Belter passes the ball around Dickinson’s Patrick Williams in the second quarter Jan. 12 at Clear Springs High School in League City. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Dickinson’s Jazmine Hansley puts up a shot past Clear Falls’ Apryl Llanes during the second quarter Jan. 19 at Clear Falls High School in League City. BRAZOSWOODCLEAR BROOKCLEAR CREEKCLEAR FALLSDICKINSONCLEAR SPRINGSCLEAR LAKE “This group has good depth and size. They play well together and for each other.” CHRIS HAIRFIELD, Clear Springs head coach “We’ve got a lot of great athletes with us now and even more coming off of the football field. We should be able to get up and down the floor with great pace. On top of that, we’ll be big at the guard spot with strong finishers in the post. Combining this with good shooters and a lot of experience, we’re hoping to have a successful year.” BLAKE SHELTON , Clear Falls head coach STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Clear Falls’ Javon Murray shoots against Clear Brook’s Sam Thompson during the first quarter Jan. 22 at Clear Brook High School in Friendswood.October 2022 | Winter Sports Preview | The Daily News | 5 BALL HIGH DISTRICT 18-5A BASKETBALL ANGLETONBALL HIGH FRIENDSWOOD LA PORTETEXAS CITYSANTA FEMANVEL BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Jerald Temple (19th season) 2021-22 RECORD: 14-18, 7-9 in district RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 6 lettermen/3 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: Will Cianfrini (two-time first- team all-district) and Malcolm Simpson (district newcomer of the year, first team all-district) TEAM STRENGTHS: Youth and athleticism. Ball High will feature four players who are 6’3” or taller. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Ball High’s Will Cianfrini jumps for a lay-up during the first quarter Jan. 14 against La Porte at Ball High School in Galveston. GIRLS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Jeff Johnson (first season) 2021-22 RECORD: 1-23, 1-12 in district RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 2 lettermen/2 starters PLAYER TO WATCH: Heaven Barrientos is a returning senior and started for the last three years on varsity. “She brings a lot of experience and knowledge of the game,” head coach Jeff Johnson said. “She has great court vision and leads the team well. I have two freshmen girls, Kalyn Toussaint and Braeon Arceneaux, who will make an immediate impact on our program. Both are great basketball players TEXAS CITY BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Chris Mason (13th season) 2021-22 RECORD: 21-13, 11-6 in district (reached first round of playoffs to the eventual state) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 4 lettermen KEY PLAYERS: At 6’5”, senior Clovis McCain Jr. is a three-year varsity lettermen, reigning district offensive MVP, first team All-Galveston County and all-region performer. The 6’7” junior Anson Johnson Jr. is a two-year varsity letterman and returning all- district performer who should be a much-improved player on both ends of the court. The 6’0” junior Jordan Washington and 6’3” junior Glen Parker both are two-year varsity lettermen. TEAM STRENGTHS: Experience and size STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Texas City’s Jordan Washington passes the ball while being guarded by Santa Fe’s Luke Garcia during the second quarter Feb. 18 at La Porte High School. GIRLS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Leanna Stockdale (first season) 2021-22 RECORD: 3-22, 2-14 in district RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 7 lettermen/3 starters PLAYER TO WATCH: Sa’Naii May TEAM STRENGTHS: Guard play and defense SANTA FE BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Jacob Hon (first season) 2021-22 RECORD: 25-10, 10-7 in district (reached playoff play-in game vs Texas City) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 7 lettermen/1 starter PLAYERS TO WATCH: Nick Jaco was last year’s district newcomer of the year; Ivan Lloyd is the team’s only returning starter from last year’s team; and Aaron Grimm is a returner from last year’s team who worked on his shot during the summer. TEAM STRENGTHS: Drive. This is a veteran club that had success last year and was one win away from making the playoffs for the first time since 1995. They are hungry for more. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Santa Fe’s Nick Jaco shoots during the first quarter Jan. 7 against La Porte at Santa Fe High School. “It’ll be a very different team than last year. We have a lot of young, talented players. We will have quite a few freshmen and sophomore girls who will be playing at the varsity level, which will be great for our future.” JEFF JOHNSON, Ball High head coach “Hopefully we can rely on experience to help us to another 20-win season and a deeper playoff run. We are a little bigger than we have been in the past, so I expect some improvement on the offensive and defensive boards.” CHRIS MASON, Texas City head coach “They are hungry and want to break the drought of missing the playoffs.” JACOB HON, Santa Fe head coach and have been playing together for years.” TEAM STRENGTHS: Youth and talentSERVICE SPECIAL With This Ad expires 12-31-22 $ 69 409.925.8275 TACLBO22538E FINANCING AVAILABLE FREE ESTIMATES KEEP IT LOCAL! www.AffordableAirTX.com HAVE A GREAT SEASON In front of Education Village (League City) (Texas City) STOP SNORING TONIGHT! Advanced Technology | Family Friendly Mark Martinsen DDS Texas A&M - B.S. Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry - DDS Brent Patterson DDS Texas A&M - B.S. UTHSC at SA - DDS What’s Your Goal? Let it be good dental care! • Dental Sleep Appliances • Cosmetic Dentistry • Bridges • Porcelain Laminates • Ceramic Crowns • Implants • Emergency Care Tooth Colored Fillings • Gum Treatment • Extractions • Root Canals Digital X-Rays • Nitrous Oxide • Partials • Intra-Oral Cameras Teeth Whitening • TVs Over the Chairs • Kids Arcade & Play Room TEXAS CITY OFFICE 409-938-1700 LEAGUE CITY OFFICE 281-557-7747 In front of Education Village 6 | The Daily News | Winter Sports Preview | October 2022 LA MARQUE BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Kevin Wilcox (sixth season) 2021-22 RECORD: 21-13, 9-3 in district (reached first round of playoffs) NUMBER OF RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 3 lettermen/2 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: At 5’9”, senior Xavier Clayton is a “great outside shooter and he finishes well around the rim,” head coach Kevin Wilcox said. “Also, he is very instinctive in the transition game and always in the right spot at the at the right time on defense.” Last year, Clayton led the team in 3-point shots made and 3-point shooting percentage. A 6’4” senior, Herman Raleigh is an “all-around basketball player with a lot of untapped talent,” Wilcox said. “He finishes strong around the rim, and he is tough in the paint and a great rebounder.” JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photo La Marque’s Xavier Clayton goes for a breakaway layup in the first quarter Jan. 18 against the Bay City Blackcats. DISTRICT 24-3A BASKETBALL HITCHCOCK BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Chris Jordan (ninth season) 2021-22 RECORD: 31-6, 14-0 in district (reached Class 3A state semifinal) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 7 lettermen/3 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: Damien McDaniel, Elijah Sherwood, Lloyd Jones III, Jayden Saxton-Rivera TEAM STRENGTHS: Experience, depth, youth. GIRLS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Dante McDaniel (fifth season) 2021-22 RECORD: 26-10, 11-0 in district (reached Region III-3A semifinals) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 7 lettermen/4 starters KEY PLAYERS: Cierra Davis and Kyleigh McDaniel TEAM STRENGTHS: Man-to-man full-court pressure Hitchcock’s Kyleigh McDaniel jumps for a layup Feb. 17 against the Kountze Lionettes at Ross S. Sterling High School in Baytown. LESLIE PLAZA JOHNSON/For The Daily News, file photo IOWA COLONYBRAZOSPORTLA MARQUE WEST COLUMBIA SWEENYSTAFFORD DISTRICT 26-4A BASKETBALL BAY CITY “This team will lean on the senior leadership and the athletic talent of the junior and sophomore class to be successful this year. Defense has always been the emphasis in La Marque, and we will continue that tradition. We are always tough at our home court, and we only lost six times at home since I have been the head coach.” KEVIN WILCOX, La Marque head coach Last year, Raleigh led the team in rebounding and blocked shots. TEAM STRENGTHS: Leadership and athleticism BOLINGEAST BERNARD HITCHCOCK WALLIS BRAZOSVAN VLECKHEMPSTEAD DANBURYHSD HOUSTON “(We) lost six seniors this past season on a team where everyone played. Defense and depth really wore teams down in the playoffs, and will be key again for us this season. The only thing that could slow us down some is guys maturing/understanding their role. We will have some new faces filling those roles off the bench.” CHRIS JORDAN , Hitchcock head coach2830 TEXAS AVENUE TEXAS CITY 409-948-4497 Store Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-6pm 24 Hour Call Out Service Available MAINLANDTOOL.COM Proud Supporters of Galveston County High School Sports! RENTAL • SALES • SERVICE BOLD. SPIRITED. A SOURCE OF STRENGTH. MoodyBank.com • 409.765.5561 MEMBERFDIC October 2022 | Winter Sports Preview | The Daily News | 7 TAPPS BASKETBALL O’CONNELL BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Derek Martin (sixth season) 2021-22 RECORD: 25-7, 6-2 in district (reached Class 2A TAPPS state semifinals) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 6 lettermen/3 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: Seniors Kristopher and Khristian Johnson have been varsity starters since their freshman seasons. Each has been first team all-district each season and have both been named TAPPS all-state each year since they were freshmen. Kristopher led the team in scoring and rebounding last season with 17.6 ppg and 9.2 rpg. He added 4.4 apg and 3.3 steals. Khristian was third on the team in scoring with 15.2 ppg. He also averaged 8.5 rpg, 6.7 apg and 6.6 steals. “They have good size and athleticism and play hard on both ends of the floor,” head coach Derek Martin said. TEAM STRENGTHS: Speed, athleticism and experience. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo JERRY LARSON/For The Daily News, file photo “Even though we won’t have the size we had last season, we will still have speed, athleticism and experience. We’ll have several guys with the ability to score the basketball and run the court in transition. We will also have the experience to know when to change pace and execute. Our speed and quickness will also make us solid on the defensive end of the floor.” DEREK MARTIN, O’Connell head coach TOP LEFT: O’Connell’s Khristian Johnson shoots over Grace Christian’s Myles Herbert during the first quarter Feb. 8 at O’Connell College Preparatory School in Galveston. BOTTOM LEFT: O’Connell’s Kristopher Johnson attempts a shot between Grace’s Xavier Owens, left, and Daniel Sanchez on March 3.2223 PALMER HWY., TEXAS CITY 409.948.6501 www.grandprizebarbeque.com 8 | The Daily News | Winter Sports Preview | October 2022 W hile there will be a plethora of soccer talent residing at Galveston County high schools this upcoming season, it’d be hard to deny the two-time defending county player of the year — Olivia Schmidt of Friendswood — the distinction of the 2022-23 county preseason soccer player of the year. “Having her back for her senior year is exciting for us,” Friendswood head girls soccer coach Laura Peter said. “We’re definitely looking for big things from her this year.” In a highly impressive run for the Lady Mustangs last season that ended in the Region III-5A championship, Schmidt had her footprints on nearly half of the 120 goals her team scored in the 2021-22 campaign, as she scored 34 goals (including seven in the playoffs) and had 24 assists. “Olivia has played soccer her whole life, so just her technical skill and her ability to maintain possession of the ball and take defenders 1v1, that helps her get into space and be able to take a shot,” Peter said. “She does a great job of getting the shot on frame, and she has a lot of power behind it. She just has a nose for the goal.” Friendswood, which posted a 26-2-0 overall record and 16-0- 0 mark in district play last season, counted on Schmidt to lead the team’s attacking third while the Lady Mustangs defense held opponents in check to an eye-popping degree. With Schmidt taking care of business on offense, the defense recorded 25 shutouts overall (including 24 in a row), and only allowed two goals in the entire regular season (both of which came in the Lady Mustangs’ lone regular season loss in their second match of the season). This season, Schmidt also will be counted on for senior leadership for a Lady Mustangs group that’ll have plenty of new faces, Peter said. “We want to compete for a district championship again and hopefully compete for the region — that’s our goal every year,” Peter said. “Olivia will be a four-year letterman this year, so she’ll be the most experienced player on the field. We’ll be looking for her to help show our young ones what it’s all about.” In addition to coming into the new season as the two-time county player of they year, Schmidt is also a two-time district MVP, received first-team all-state honors last season, and was voted by her peers as Friendswood’s team MVP. OFFENSIVE STALWART SET TO LEAD ANOTHER STRONG FRIENDSWOOD SOCCER CAMPAIGN OLIVIA SCHMIDT PRESEASON SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR Story by JAMES LACOMBE | The Daily News JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photo “Olivia will be a four-year letterman this year, so she’ll be the most experienced player on the field. We’ll be looking for her to help show our young ones what it’s all about.” LAURA PETER , Friendswood head coach Friendswood’s Olivia Schmidt passes the ball back to the middle of the field in the second half April 8 against the Hendrickson Lady Hawks in the Region 3-5A semifinals at Turner Stadium in Humble. PREVIEW SPRING SPORTS BATTER UP 409.683.5202 | advertising@galvnews.com 02.11.23October 2022 | Winter Sports Preview | The Daily News | 9 DISTRICT 24-6A SOCCER BRAZOSWOODCLEAR BROOKCLEAR CREEKCLEAR FALLSDICKINSONCLEAR SPRINGSCLEAR LAKE CLEAR CREEK BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Chris Cobb (24th season) 2021-22 RECORD: 10-9-3, 5-4-3 in district (reached first round of playoffs) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 12 lettermen/7 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jaden Richardson and Ariel Machado STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Clear Creek’s Aaliyah Ramadan moves the ball up the field against Brazoswood’s Clarissa Martinez during the first half of a regional qualifier playoff soccer game April 1, 2021, at The Rig in Pearland. GIRLS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Aaron Beck (fourth season) 2021-22 RECORD: 14-5, 7-1-4 in district (reached third round of playoffs) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 14 lettermen, 5 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: Aaliyah Ramadan for her offensive attack and scoring, and Arielle Abramsky, who will be leading the back line of the defense TEAM STRENGTH: Overall teamwork CLEAR FALLS BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Michael Balla (12th season) 2021-22 RECORD: 13-6-5, 7-2-3 in district RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 9 lettermen PLAYERS TO WATCH: Marco Jimenez has a fantastic all-around game, passing and shooting movement, and is very hungry to earn the respect he deserves from other coaches, head coach Michael Balla said. Carlos Loredo is also an excellent passer and possesses great vision to play dangerous forward passes and STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Clear Falls’ Carlos Loredo celebrates after scoring against Pearland during the first half of a bi-district playoff game March 25 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in League City. CLEAR SPRINGS BOYS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Kenny Webb (16th season) 2021-22 RECORD: 16-4-3, 9-1-2 in district (reached second round of playoffs) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 10 lettermen/8 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: Myles DeBondt, a 2022 district defensive MVP and Galveston County boys soccer player of the year, will need to lead the defense that allowed a team record low of three goals in district last season. With the loss of two other starting center-mids, Alexandro Quintanilla will need to bring his level up and will need to be the field general, head coach Kenny Webb said. TEAM STRENGTH: Defense. All but one of the starters in the back return. The “new” starter played in the back during a four-game span last year, and Clear Springs did not concede a goal in that span. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Clear Springs’ Alexandro Quintanilla, right, and Pearland’s Adrien Hall contend for a pass during the first half March 25, 2021, at Challenger Columbia Stadium in League City. GIRLS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Craig Foster (15th season) 2021-22 RECORD: 7-11-6, 5-5-2 in district (lost in first round of playoffs) RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 12 lettermen/7 starters PLAYER TO WATCH: Senior Jessica Marker is the only player on this Clear Springs team who has started for four seasons. TEAM STRENGTHS: Depth and experience, with 20 on the roster and 12 returning players LESLIE PLAZA JOHNSON/For The Daily News, file photo Clear Springs’ Jessica Marker dribbles the ball during a match against Clear Falls on Feb. 2 in League City. DICKINSON GIRLS VARSITY HEAD COACH: Samuel Goodwin (seventh season) 2021-22 RECORD: 6-11, 2-10 in district RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 9 lettermen/5 starters PLAYERS TO WATCH: Ava Axtle is a four-year letterman and all-around player from attacking and defending with good speed, technique, and is a great teammate, head coach Samuel Goodwin said. Jamie Noriega is another four-year letterman, who plays all positions and is a great leader, Goodwin said. TEAM STRENGTH: Holding each other accountable and being the underdogs in this tough district, Goodwin said. “Both are returning starters with a highly attacking mindset,” head coach Chris Cobb said. TEAM STRENGTH: Offense. We are a possession-style team with our entire offense returning. We should be strong offensively.” CHRIS COBB, Clear Creek head coach “We don’t have superstars and no one really stands out, but we are together united and committed only to the team. We are very, very young.” MICHAEL BALLA, Clear Falls head coach maintain possession, Balla said. TEAM STRENGTHS: Team work ethic and work rate.Next >