By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
Following a 4-4 start to their 2022-23 campaign, the Abilene boy’s basketball team has been trending in the right direction, winning four of their last six to take an 8-6 record and the #8 ranking in Class 4A into the final month of their season.
Since the return of Brax Fisher, who was hampered early in the year with an injury sustained during the football season, the Cowboys have looked sharp, falling only to ranked opponents and a 6A foe in Blue Valley SW.
“These guys always compete,” Abilene head coach Erik Graefe said. “No matter what the circumstances are they believe that they have a chance to win and I’m proud of them for that. They’re easy guys to coach and they want to play hard and do the right things.”
As Abilene has filled the holes left by last year’s graduating class, the Cowboys have begun playing a selfless brand of basketball on the offensive end, and have tightened up their play week in and week out as the season has progressed.
“We’re sharing the ball better than we did early,” Graefe said. “We still need to rebound better but we’re figuring that out even with less size. We’ve been maturing and taking better shots and we’re really moving in the right direction on a bunch of different fronts.”
This season has also seen the true emergence of Stocton Timbrook, whose experience and leadership as quarterback on the gridiron have seamlessly translated to the hardwood this winter.
“I’ve been surprised by how well Stocton Timbrook has played but I should have known,” he said. “He’s been a great leader for us. He’s a great baseball player, he’s a great football player and overall he’s just a great competitor.”
While Abilene has looked dominant in stretches this season, their ability on the glass remains one of the few question marks down the stretch, as the undersized Cowboys have conceded big second-chance points against larger opponents this year.
“We still need to rebound better, that just has to become a priority,” Graefe said. “We’re in all of our games but we give teams extra chances and we pick a lot of uphill battles that way.”
Regardless of that one flaw, there’s little doubt that the Cowboys have been playing their best basketball as of late, and if Abilene can tighten that up down the stretch, this team will be a formidable foe come late February and early March.
“We’ve been playing our best basketball here recently,” he said. “We want to be an excellent basketball team and if we can play to our potential as hard and as smart as we can I think the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”
Abilene will be back on the hardwood on Friday, February 3rd for a rematch with Marysville, who are currently ranked #7 in Class 3A.
For continuing coverage of Cowboy hoops all season long, stay tuned to the Salina Post.