Hickman boy’s basketball team, more than teammates

“We feel that’s very important in regards to our success to who are are as a team and a basketball program,” said Hickman boy’s basketball coach David Johnson.

The 2013-2014 Hickman varsity boy’s team is a family with ties deeper than just teammates.

“For one, my son, Douglas, being a senior this year,” said Coach Johnson.

“My dad the coach, there are some up and there are some downs. He gets hard on me sometimes because he wants me to go better but I just got to push throw whatever he tells me to do because he’s doing it for the right reasons,” said Douglas Johnson.

And Jimmy Whitts’ brother was a Kewpie, who is now playing at Columbia College.

“Toughness really and hustle. They make every play count is what he really taught me cause you never know when it can be your last play,” Whitt said.

All leading the Kewpies to one of the program’s strongest starts.

“We’ve grown up together since day one, so we’ve had that connection together together so we know how to play together, we know what each other do, what each other like. we bond together real good,” Douglas Johnson said.

“I think it gives us the extra team chemistry other teams might not have because we’ve grown up with each other, we know each other real well on and off the court so I think that really helps us,” said Whitt.

But the clock is running down on the time this team has together with seven seniors on this year’s undefeated team.

Coach Johnson keeps his coach and dad hat on to continue the team’s winning season.

“They look at me in various ways, some father figure, some as a mentor, some as a friend, so I just try to provide them with what ever needs they have in regards to helping them be successful,” said Coach Johnson.

Success that tallies a perfect season so far, 12-0.