Hayti boys basketball squad looks to repeat success

PROVIDED PHOTO
Pictured are members of the Hayti varsity boys basketball team. Front row left to right: Tyliek Moore, Quintral Clay, Quindale Malone, Eddie Wooden; pictured back row left to right: Demarion Kyles, Robert Jones, Tray’von Thomas, Trey Barber, Roy Presberry; not pictured are: Herschel Grant, Lee Taylor, Zolyn Williams, Eddie Pirtle, and Emmanual Hodges.

The Hayti Indians return boys basketball squad returns three starters off a 19-9 team that saw some success in winning the Bootheel Conference Tournament, capturing fourth place in the talent-heavy Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, and defeating Neelyville at the buzzer in the Class 2, District 1 semi-finals last season.

Hayti Indians head coach Travis Day starts his second season with the Indians, and is excited about what the new season will bring.

“Right now our goal is simply to get better every day," he said. "We will be extremely athletic and we will guard the ball well. I’m looking for us to be extremely good on the defensive end. Rebounding as a committee will be a must. We won’t be able to depend on one guy to get 10-12 rebounds. We will have to do it as a team.”

Coach Kevin McCaig will assist Day this season.

Junior Trayvon Thomas is one of the returning starters, and he had this to say about the upcoming year.

“Everyone coming in, working hard, and knowing what their role is, is what I’m most excited about," Thomas said. "We will have some young and new guys that will play big minutes for us. I feel the only team that can beat us is ourselves.”

Senior Tyliek Moore was another big contributor last year and had these comments.

“This years team will be built on work ethic," he said. "I can see that because of how we were ready to get after it after football season. We are looking forward to the new battles we will face this season. Being seeded first in the upcoming tournament tells me we have a lot to live up to this season. We will be ready.”

Senior Quindale Malone returns, and will be a solid contributor in the starting five. Others returning with varsity minutes under their belt include junior Lee Taylor, senior Roy Presberry, senior Eddie Wooden, and junior Emmanual Hodges.

“Every year for a coach there is a new challenge”, continued Day, “and the good part is that we have a building block with Trayvon, Tyliek, and Quindale coming back. These guys played a lot of minutes last year so those guys are our foundation. Now we just have to piece guys around them.”

Hayti is the No. 1 seed at this week's eight-team Gideon Invitational.

Hayti Boys Basketball Schedule