By: Hunter Ferguson

The Duke Boys Basketball team ended the 2022 season with a 27-4 record. The group won the Regional Championship but was ultimately thwarted in the Area Finals. This season, on the team’s 16-man roster there are four sets of brothers all of whom are committed to maintaining the legacy of Duke High School. Which at this point consists of an eight-year record of 203-34. In addition, the team has been to the State Championship five times in the last eight years during the 2016 season as well as 2018 through 2020 and again in 2022. Taking home a state title in their 2020 competition. Not to mention that they have been undefeated at home for the past six seasons.

Returning to the team this season are three senior athletes who will be essential to the team’s success. Offensive and Defensive Team Leader Jorden Chevis is the team’s leading returning scorer who runs point. He is said to have the fastest hands his coach has ever seen. Also returning to the team is Lane Womack who has been a team starter for the past four years. One of the best Class B athletes Womack eclipsed 1000 points during the 2022 season. Another returning player, Morgan Reynolds has been a varsity starter for three years and is said to be the best shooter on the team. He is on track to surpass 1000 points this season.

Given all the work Duke has put in to build their program and their players, it seems they have a very good shot at returning to the State Championship this year, but with the number of talented teams in the Southwest, they will have to fight not only to stay healthy but to earn their spot at the top.