Our Doherty Spartans boys’ basketball team has been off to a great start so far in the 2023-2024 season, and they can now be proud of a 10-5 overall record and 3-0 in league games. This isn’t much of a surprise knowing last year in their 22-23 season they went 16-9 overall and 9-1 in league, which made them finish 1st over in league, but sadly came up short losing 72-43 against Fossil Ridge in the 22-23 playoffs. Now their success doesn’t come easy, playing some of the best schools in Colorado, but they always have come and got the job done, no matter what.
This year the team has four seniors joining the boys’ basketball team here at Doherty. Brayden Unsenth, James Pulliam, Koryeon Lacy, and Solomon Latimer are all on their last ride here with the team. Having four seniors brings a lot of experience to the table and a lot of leadership. “You know, I’ve worked hard all four years in this program it’s good to see the progress I’ve made becoming a leader,” says senior Brayden Unsenth. “I would say my role on the team is the leader,” says senior James Pulliam. Leadership is a key success factor in the team’s winning, with leadership comes a close and strong team.
“I think this year we are close as a team and it benefits us on the court as well, which helps us come together and be stronger,” says senior Brayden Unsenth.
Leadership comes both ways, it doesn’t just come from seniors it also comes from the underclassmen on the team. “I feel like it gives them somebody to rely on, and that helps on and off the court. We play more as a team,” says junior Jason Ross. “I feel like I play a good role and I help lead my team well,” says junior Maddox Dee-Mortenson. Having this leadership for this team is a key success factor for them.
James Pulliam scored 30 points playing against Rampart earlier in January. “Dropping 30 has always been something I wanted to do and I finally did and it feels great but it’s also what I should be doing and what my peers and coaches kinda expect from me,” says James. This is James’ first full season back after the torn ACL he faced going into his junior season. “It feels good to be back but also scary knowing I don’t have that extra year to fall back on, so it gives me kind of some urgency and like I gotta hoop,” says Pulliam. Pulliumis averaging 11.3 points per game with also averaging 5.2 rebounds per game for the Spartans this season.
Keep a look out for our Doherty boys basketball team. Between the leadership and James Pulliam being back and ready to play these boys are going to be a great threat for other Colorado boys’ basketball teams.
