RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
With the best season record (31-3) in Randolph High School's history, it's no surprise
the Ro-Hawks boys' basketball team has garnered an array of post-season individual honors.
Leading the awards list is senior Mark Hopkins, who was named as District 27-AA's Most Valuable Player. Additionally, he was named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches 1st Team, All-Region and 1st Team, All-State.
Hopkins, who played recently in the Texas Roundup All-Star game and who's been picked to play in the TABC All-Star game at Trinity University on May 8, said he was honored to have been on a good team that had a great season.
"We had excellent fans and coaches supporting us," Hopkins added.
Another award winner is senior Kyle McNally, who earned 1st Team, All-District honors.
"All the hard work we went through this season really paid off," McNally said, referring to the team's best-ever season record.
Senior Stephen Pompa, who noted the team had been playing together for three or four years and had "good chemistry together," was picked to the 2nd team, All-District.
So was junior Matt Atwell, who said it was "cool" to be selected now.
Atwell added, "As a freshman, I heard about selections. They seemed so far away then."
Sophomore Jacorian Duffield said he was more shocked than anything at being selected as Region IV Newcomer of the Year.
"And was just happy I could contribute to the best record in the school's history," he added.
Sophomore Josh Dodgen, who earned an Honorable Mention on the All-District team, said he felt great to have had a chance to play - and to have helped the seniors be part of the most successful Randolph boys' basketball team ever.
The team's coach, Tim Gendron, said this year's Ro-Hawks team was one of the best squads he's ever had the pleasure to have mentored because of their coach ability, intelligence, good attitudes and chemistry.
And he said they're good kids with good parents.
"We were able to do more schemes on the floor than I've seen a team do in a long time," Mr. Gendron added, "and the kids were able to play different positions. They have high basketball I.Q.'s -- and because of them I loved every bit of this whole season. "