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COVINGTON, Ga. — Eastside’s boys basketball program has had presumably probably the greatest seasons in latest reminiscence. A part of the success has been the truth that the Eagles obtain contributions from everywhere in the flooring.
There may be one participant, although, whose play stands above the remainder — Kassen Saunders.
Saunders’ tackle what makes this Eagles squad higher is straightforward.
“The most important distinction from final yr with my new crew is we come collectively as a crew,” Saunders stated. “We determine powerful battles as a gaggle and now we have nice chemistry.”
It’s not a far stretch that one among Saunders’ favourite basketball gamers is Stephen Curry of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. Like Curry, Saunders is a three-point maestro.
At season’s finish, Saunders ranked third in Class AAAAA with 46 made three-pointers. His apply routine isn’t something elaborate, both. Saunders stated he goals to shoot 50 three-pointers in apply and earlier than every sport.
All through his senior season, although, Saunders has been working to enhance his skill to penetrate the paint and end on the rim.
Lengthy earlier than Saunders was main the Eagles on the hardwood, he was already hooked on the sport.
“I’ve been taking part in basketball for 13 years,” Saunders stated. “I began off on the YMCA and taking part in with the Alternative Administration Knights once I began to begin loving the sport.”
There may be one particular person, specifically, that Saunders credit for getting him concerned within the sport he now loves and excels at.
“My pops obtained me keen on basketball,” Saunders stated. “We performed basketball outdoors on a regular basis and simply grew to find it irresistible and work more durable.”
Saunders continued by saying his mother and father and grandparents are his greatest motivations to do effectively on and off the courtroom.
The senior guard leads his crew in scoring averaging 12.8 factors per sport with a team-high 49% three-point taking pictures effectivity.
His efficiency has performed a pivotal function in Eastside’s 20-5 general file and 9-3 Area 8-AAAAA mark, which locations the Eagles in third place and one sport out of first within the area.
Considered one of Saunders’ favourite issues about this season has nothing to do with the video games themselves.
“I really like my teammates and training employees,” Saunders stated. “It looks like house on and off the courtroom.”
The relationships he’s constructed has saved Saunders’ curiosity excessive in basketball general, too. That doesn’t imply this season has gone flawlessly.
Saunders acknowledged they’ve had some making an attempt occasions, however he feels that’ll make the Eagles higher.
“This yr now we have been by means of quite a lot of ups and downs and arduous work with an important file of 20-5,” Saunders stated.
Eastside’s 20 wins is essentially the most in a single season because the 2015-16 season when the Eagles completed 20-10.
On account of their profitable common season, the Eagles enter the Area 8-AAAAA match because the No. 3 seed. They’ll face the winner between Loganville and Clarke Central — each groups Eastside swept within the common season — on Monday, Feb. 13 at 8:30 p.m. The match will likely be performed at Winder-Barrow Excessive Faculty.
Saunders pointed to a particular phrase the Eagles adopted this season as a catalyst for undertaking their objectives transferring ahead.
“For our crew this yr now we have to come back into the playoffs with ‘benengry’ and a targeted mindset to win.” Saunders stated. “We wish to beat something that will get in entrance of us as a crew.”
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