Travis Thompson is the new head coach for the Turlock Christian varsity boys basketball team and he is seeing early progress from his team after a pair of games has them off to a 2-0 start.
Last year, TC finished with nine victories for the entire season after playing 26 games.
“For me I see length and athleticism…my kids are very coachable and very respectful in so many ways,” said Thompson.
Thompson, who came from Kansas, is thrilled so far in the early stages, but he knows the road is a long one and it’s just getting started.
“In Kansas we had a high-powered offense but we got a lot of threes in transition, here we see more press, so we see more layups. More zone than man as well, something different than I have seen.”
Last year, TC was 9-17 overall and won just six league games to finish in fifth in the Central California Athletic Alliance. TC did win four of their last six games to close out the year.
This year it is simple, Thompson is looking to better the squad with a new offensive scheme.
That offensive scheme saw the TC Eagles notch the second most points in a single game to kick things off Nov. 24 against Valley Christian.
In that game, TC put up 91 points, trailing the school record for points in a game by five (95).
TC also tallied 28 assists for the game — another school record for a single game.
“That was really something great to see,” said Thompson. “It is high powered … we had six guys with double figures. Things are changing and its great and to have so many options any given night.”
TC’s roster of 11 is comprised of six seniors that include Micah Blomenkamp, Zack Silva, Josh Comfort, Ethan Fisher, Will Liu and Gideon Hoag.
Markie Delgadillo, Eli Gregg and Howie Skinner make up the juniors and sophomores Issac Rodrigues and Luke Tyson make up the remainder of the roster.
The competition will be interesting in the CCAA with teams like Brookside Christian and Elliot Christian, which both won 20-plus games last year and went 13-1 apiece in league play.
“I think we have a chance to do something that TC hasn’t done in a while,” said Thompson. “Heard nothing but compliments so far about the team and I think we hear about the Brookside and Jim Elliot, but we can’t worry about what others think about us, because we have to control what we can.”
TC will next travel on the road to take on Delta Charter at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
“Gratitude is one of our core values and being patient with the process. When you come from a place where you compete for a state title, you can't expect that everywhere you go. Enjoy the process and journey with new kids in a new place has been what I really tried to focus on.”
