State of the Program: Houma Christian boys basketball looks to continue rebuild under Jones

Richard Jones' debut with Houma Christian boys basketball last season marked his return to the sport. Jones took a year off from coaching after his resignation from Terrebonne, but got back to basketball with the Warriors.

HCS had an up-and-down start to the Jones era, opening the 2022-23 season at 5-2 before losing six straight and stumbling to a 10-14 record by the end of the year. The Warriors are hoping to continue building in Class 2A District 9.

The tradition

For most of this century, Houma Christian boys basketball has been run by the Frye family. Under Freddie Frye, the Warriors had an unprecedented run of success, including a trip to the state semifinals in 2017. After Freddie's resignation, his son Nate, a former player of his, continued the run. Nate led HCS to three straight playoff appearances before he chose to step away from coaching in 2022.

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The challenge

There's still a lot of youth on this year's roster. Of 12 players, seven are sophomores or younger ‒ and that includes Henry Legendre and Jake Dyson, both of whom made varsity as eighth-graders.

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In addition, all four seniors on roster could be unavailable for part of the regular season. Micah Callais, Brody Dufrene, Joseph Landry and Remy LeBouef are all football players as well as basketball players, and Houma Christian's football team qualified for the LHSAA playoffs.

Expectations

The Warriors won't be a playoff contender this year, but might break through with a winning record.

The schedule

Nov. 9: @ Thibodaux (Jamboree)

Nov. 16: vs. Lutheran

Nov. 27: @ Highland Baptist

Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Vandebilt Catholic Tournament (@ Vandebilt Catholic)

Dec. 5: @ Central Private

Dec. 8-9: St. Mary's Tournament (@ St. Mary's)

Dec. 12: vs. A.J. Ellender (@ Terrebonne)

Dec. 13: @ Grand Isle

Dec. 15: vs. Slaughter Community Charter

Dec. 18: vs. Central Catholic-Morgan City

Dec. 20: vs. Patrick Taylor

Dec. 22: vs. E.D. White (Fontz Classic, @ Nicholls)

Dec. 30: vs. Church Point

Jan. 4: @ Benjamin Franklin

Jan. 8: vs. St. Charles Catholic

Jan. 10: vs. South Terrebonne (@ H.L. Bourgeois)

Jan. 12: vs. South Lafourche

Jan. 16: @ Covenant Chrisitian

Jan. 17: @ Fisher*

Jan. 19: vs. St. John

Jan. 22: vs. Kenner Discovery

Jan. 24: vs. Thomas Jefferson*

Jan. 26: vs. Haynes Academy

Feb. 1: vs. Jefferson Rise Charter*

Feb. 6: vs. Walter L. Cohen*

Feb. 9: @ South Plaquemine*

Feb. 15: vs. Covenant Christian

*Class 2A District 9 game

This article originally appeared on The Courier: State of the Program: HCS boys hoops looks to continue rebuild