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Two days after winning football state title, Jayton began chasing another in basketball
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- Two days after winning football state title, Jayton began chasing another in basketball
WOLFFORTH — Lifting a state-championship trophy in Texas high school football is an unforgettable achievement, but Jayton didn't spend much time celebrating.
The Jaybirds couldn't afford to.
Two days after winning the school's first football title in 39 years, Jayton hit the hardwood for its basketball district opener with the same athletes leading the way.
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"We didn't really have time to really celebrate or anything," junior Colt Gentry said. "We just got back to Jayton and got back into basketball."
One shootaround later, the Jaybirds mauled Hamlin 51-12 on Dec. 20. Jayton followed with a 62-39 win over Lubbock Christian the next day.
The smooth transition came as no surprise to coach Ryan Bleiker, who led the Jaybirds to their first basketball championship last season.
Jayton's Sean Stanaland shoots against Estacado in a non-district boys basketball game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at the Tiger Pit in Wolfforth.
"With our kids, it's really not a big deal," Bleiker said. "They shoot all year-round. All year-round they're in the gym, so that's not hard. I think the hardest thing that we're trying to get through is … trying to get us into basketball shape a bit. … When we hit that, we're gonna be really good."
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The UIL permitted boys basketball teams to begin practices Oct. 23. Jayton has become accustomed to late starts because of its success in football. Bleiker found that to be beneficial because the Jaybirds peak on the court during the playoffs.
"Maybe our Januarys don't look as good," Bleiker said, "but I always feel like our February and March are better because we're kind of hitting our stride right at the right point. To me, that's what I've always thought a long football season can do for you. February and March come around, you're playing your best basketball."
Jayton's basketball right now isn't bad. The Jaybirds are 6-2, with a pair of losses to 4A programs. That included an 88-59 setback to Estacado on Saturday. Considering the seventh-ranked Matadors are the best team Jayton will face this season, the result was bearable.
Bleiker liked how his team handled Estacado's press and felt the Jaybirds learned "how hard they can actually play." Jayton had positive moments, including an 8-0 lead to start the game.
Jayton's Colt Gentry shoots against Estacado in a non-district boys basketball game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at the Tiger Pit in Wolfforth.
"I think the best things that'll come from us playing this competition is just the level of physicality and the level of athletes that they all are," Gentry said. "There's not another team in 1A that can even come close to the type of athletes or the full-court pressing that they did the whole game."
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Bleiker said a rugged non-district schedule is key and the team has already faced a number of different styles. The Jaybirds will face Lubbock Christian again, along with matchups against Big Lake Reagan County and Wall sprinkled around the district slate.
Another big advantage is a carryover from last year. Jayton broke through in its fourth state tournament, which all occurred since 2019. Bleiker said confidence and belief is at an all-time high — and winning in football was a boost, too.
"We're used to having a target on our back, so this year we're embracing it," Gentry said. "We're just trying to go out every game and prove why we won state last year and why our goal is to go do that again."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Jayton boys begin quest to repeat as basketball state champions
