By Matt Browning
The Maize South boys basketball team had one of its best seasons in the school’s history and guard Michael Kates was a vital component to it. He averaged 14 points and four assists per game.
Kates said that the Mavericks’ journey this season was one he will never forget.
“This was one of the best seasons in Maize South, and although it didn’t end how we wanted it to, I still would do it again with these guys,” Kates said. “Our senior bond that we had graduating eight was special, and all of us will go on to do great things in life.”
There were so many quality victories on Maize South’s resume this season, but there was one that was the most impressive.
“The win that stands out to me was our sub state championship game,” Kates said. “It was the last game I would play at my home floor, and it was fun to play in, the crowd was great everything you could have wanted in your last home game.”
The Mavericks were one of the top-ranked teams in Class 5A all season and went into the state tournament with a title in mind. But an untimely injury derailed those plans.
“It was unfortunate how our season ended with one of our players Tory tearing his ACL right before state, and it was tough without him losing a key piece, but other guys stepped up,” Kates said. “I think in a different world things would have ended differently for us.”
