Jordan is out to prove they can build on last year.

The Warriors are coming off their best ever season as they finished with a 28-9 record, reached the Region III-6A Semifinal and finished second in District 19-6A. The goal for the Warriors is to continue that success into this year with a young core of players that are already battle tested.

The Warriors have made sure to play strong opposition throughout non-district play and that included in the Katy ISD Tournament, where they overcame a strong Westside team Friday, winning 69-67 to improve to 11-1 on the year.

It was a back and forth game where both teams tested each other from start to finish and Jordan’s players had to execute down the stretch. It came down the final possessions and although any team would like to win by a big margin, going through those battles and learning how to play in the clutch is an important thing for players who haven’t been at the varsity level before the Warriors get to district play.

“There’s going to be a lot of games that come down to these types of situations in district, it’s never going to be easy,” said Jordan head coach Charlie Jones. “Of course I’d rather it not be that close, but it’s good for the kids to play in these types of games, get that experience and learn how to execute in it.”

It was a close one the whole way, Jordan led 22-21 after the first quarter and despite trailing most of the second quarter were able to pull back ahead for a 36-35 lead at halftime. But the third quarter is where the Warriors started asserting themselves. Jordan upped the defensive intensity and got out in transition for quick buckets, opening up a 61-55 lead and held on, executing well in the fourth to clinch the win.

“We really locked in defensively in the third and fourth quarters,” said junior forward Jude Oluokun. “We got stops, got rebounds and pushed and scored. When we play like that it helps us so much as a team. Nobody can guard us, nobody can stop us when we play like that. When we have that intensity and play the right way, we can play with anyone.”

Jaden Holt led the way with 23 points while Corey Nicholson had 11 and Jacob Oluokun, Rayan Fadika and Jalen Black each pitched in eight points.

The Warriors and the rest of Katy ISD start up District 19-6A play once the Katy ISD tournament is over, and Jordan knows it has a long way to reach its goals, but they are working every day to get better and reach them.

“It’s really just about going out and doing the right things every day,” Holt said. “We need to stick to Coach Jones plan, execute in practice and go out there and play hard every night. If we execute the plan the right way and we play hard I don’t think there’s anyone out there who can beat us. We’re excited to get to district.”