The Deweyville basketball team, under first year Coach Hunter Estes, is heading to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
With two games to play the Pirates are currently tied with West Hardin for second behind Evadale in District 24-2A. They host Hull-Daisetta Friday and travel to Sabine Pass on Tuesday.
Estes is a hometown boy, graduating from Deweyville in 2011 where he was one of the Pirates top athletes, averaging more than 20 points a game during basketball season.
After one season as an assistant coach at Central Heights in Nacogdoches, Estes applied for the job in Deweyville, where he was told there wasn’t a lot of hope for him and the team.
“A lot of people were telling me good luck and that we weren’t going to win because we haven’t had success in a while,” he said. “I know the kids were hearing that too.”
“But when we beat Anahuac in the Anahuac Tournament, I could tell the kids were starting to believe in my system. And their progress has impressed me ever since.”
Coach Estes’ system is an up tempo ball-moving offense along with a match-up defense depending on their opponent.
The “Jimmy Chitwood” of the Pirates is Caleb Winkle who averages more than 20 points a game and leads the Pirates in every category but rebounding.
Caden Hubbard leads the team in rebounds. Coach Estes calls Hubbard a great athlete who plays hard and always seems to be in the right spot for the board.
The smallest player of the starting five, Darin Lavergne, is the second leading rebounder. “People underestimate him but he’s not afraid to get in the paint,” Estes said.
Coach called Hunter Shannon his most improved player, upping his average to double digits the second half of the season.
The Pirates also have a freshman starting in Nate Buxton. Leave him open in the corner and coach says more often than not he’ll drain the three.
The Pirates will face District 23-2A in the first round of the playoffs. Right now Lufkin Piney Woods is the leader, with Broaddus, West Sabine and Colmesneil fighting for the other spots.
“I’m proud of these boys,” Estes said. “They work hard. Their hard work has paid off.”
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