Class 4A: Houston is in the mix

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's great belief inside the locker room of the Houston Mustangs that they will be competitive in Class 4A this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a higher belief from junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2101889' first='Justin' last='Frison'] that Houston can compete for a Class 4A title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's understandable for Frison to set a standard for the Mustangs, who won the Class 4A District 15 Tournament championship last season with a win over Bartlett. The win gave Houston the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A Region 8 Tournament, but Frison wouldn't suit up for the Mustangs in their first round game against Memphis East. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He had to watch from his team's bench as it failed to extend its season and buy Frison some time to recover from a wrist injury he suffered against the Panthers. The 2024 season could have played out differently for Houston had it had its floor general leading the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But, the past is the past, and Frison is only focused on this season. The Mustangs had to retool their roster after losing seniors Keron Jackson and Kaleb Jeffries. Houston added much-needed size in senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='2043374' first='Kaleb' last='Davis'], who came from Wooddale. The Mustangs, officially, have a big 3 with Frison, Davis, and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2111892' first='Jordan' last='Myles'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Houston looked in sync in Saturday's 77-61 home win over Kirby. The Mustangs scored a lot of points without Davis, who missed action for being under the weather. The ball movement was superb. Houston got out in transition and scored with ease. Defensively, players communicated and made things difficult for the Cougars' best player, [player_tooltip player_id='2797237' first='Carey' last='McClain Jr.'], who had 14 points in the contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To be down a quality starter and still manage to look sharp on the defensive end is a great sign for the Mustangs moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>”A big piece of that is [player_tooltip player_id='2043374' first='Kaleb' last='Davis']. Once we get him back, it's going to be even better because we guard so hard on the perimeter,” Frison said. “We can just send it down to our big, and he will clean all of that up. I feel like we can be A+ ranked on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We gotta a lot of potential there.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Houston should score a lot of points as well this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The chemistry between Frison and Myles has improved year after year. A lot of the Mustangs' success starts with the two juniors the program has been built around since their arrival two seasons ago. In Saturday's win over Kirby, Frison threw lobs to Myles. Frison caught one off the rim. The 6-foot-0 point guard also went coast-to-coast for a slam. Myles had monster dunks down the lane in transition as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kirby could never interrupt Houston's flow on offense as it jumped out to an early lead. Myles led the Mustangs with 23 points. Frison finished with 20. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When these two guys are clicking and in rhythm, Houston is a hard team to contain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>”We have been playing with each other for like 4 years, 5 years now. I know where he's going to be. He knows where I am going to be,” Frison said. “And we just been joined ever since.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2870588' first='Will' last='Ballard'] (10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3102141' first='Aidan' last='Phillips'] (19) were solid on Saturday and will need to continue to play well as reserve players. Everyone will have to be on one accord if Houston wants to repeat last season's success and add to it with a trip to Murfreesboro, Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's not going to be easy to come out of Class 4A District 15. Arlington has improved. Bartlett has all of its major pieces, minus KJ Neville, back from last season's team that won the Class 4A District 15 regular season title and made it to the semifinals round of the Class 4A Region 8 Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams have aspirations of making a deep postseason run. The Mustangs do as well, and Frison sees a path for Houston to be one of the teams in Murfreesboro, Tennessee competing for a Class 4A title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>”I see us in a lot of close games, but still in the end, I'm going with my guys,” Frison said. “I feel like we have worked so hard and put in so many hours. We trust each other so much. We're just going to go out there and come out with the dub against anybody.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->