By Jim Irish
Cedar Creek boys basketball was snake bitten this past season by injuries to its top players.
Sophomore Kenji Franklin and juniors Robert Conrad and Micah McDonald were all out of the lineup for significant stretches.
Franklin, a 6-foot-6 player capable of playing every position, including point guard, missed three District 23-5A contests with a hairline fracture of the ankle.
When Franklin was healthy, he demonstrated his outstanding ability. In district, he averaged 20.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. On the negative side, he averaged 5.9 turnovers, mostly playing point guard after an injury to Conrad.
Franklin was recently selected to the all-district first team by the coaches.
"... He showed all teams he is not only one of the most talented in district but all of Central Texas."
-- Cedar Creek coach Valentino Maxwell about Kenji Franklin
“(Franklin) improved all year and ran point guard in district after missing one and a half months of play,” Cedar Creek coach Valentino Maxwell said. “He showed all teams he is not only one of the most talented in district but all of Central Texas.”
Conrad, a 5-10 junior, played only one half of one of the 14 district games with a dislocated elbow. In all, he played 17 of Cedar Creek’s 34 games.
In that one game, Conrad scored 10 points in addition to two rebounds, two assists, and one block.
District coaches remembered Conrad despite his injury and named him honorable mention.
Because of a torn meniscus in his knee, McDonald, a 6-2 junior, played only four district games and averaged 11 points and 4.3 rebounds. He also suffered 8.5 turnovers a game.
He also was selected as honorable mention.
With Franklin, Conrad, and McDonald missing games, the Eagles managed only a 3-11 record in District 23-5A (17-17) overall.
Cedar Creek opened the season with a 13-1 record and was briefly ranked the No.1 Class 5A team by the Austin American Statesman. During that stretch, the Eagles won two tournaments, including their own.
Bastrop's Mosley named to district second team
Bastrop’s Nathaniel Mosley, a 5-10 junior, was named to the all-district second team. He averaged 12 points, two rebounds, and one assist in district. He hit 41.5% front the field and 39.5% from three-point range. He also connected on 83.3% from the free throw line.
“… Our district coached recognized that (Mosley) was one of the best three-point shooters,” Bastrop first-year coach Eric Woods said. “He was consistent throughout the entire season.
“He progressed this season playing off the dribble and being more active on defense to generate deflections and steals.”
Named honorable mention for Bastrop were sophomore Keyshon Moore and senior Dylan Tyson.
Bastrop finished 2-12 in District 23-5A (8-24 overall).
Jim Irish is a freelance writer in Bastrop, Texas