Thanks to their best district start in several years, the Stratford boys basketball team is in strong contention for the District 19-5A championship more than halfway through the season.

The Spartan men have put themselves in a pretty good position in achieving their goal of winning the district championship. A 60-56 loss to Nimitz Friday night put Stratford at 5-2, but hardly knocked them out of the race.

“We want to put ourselves in a position to win the district championship and so far we’ve done that,” Stratford coach Mitch Hornsby said.

As head coach, Hornsby has taken the Spartans from winning a combined 13 games in the first two seasons to one within realistic reach of championships.

Returning only three players this season – Andrew Luck, Sterling Dailey and Antoine Hicks – didn’t worry Hornsby.

“We lost nine seniors and only had three returning,” Hornsby said. “But the guys we were keeping are extremely quality guys. So we had a good core to build around.”

Blake Kelting and Tevin Kelly round out the starting lineup.

Hornsby couldn’t name just one or two standout guys this season. He named seven.

“We don’t have that one guy we have to depend on to get us going and carry us,” Hornsby said. “We’ve got several. And that’s what’s been so good about our season.

“Blake Kelting and Tevin Kelly are our leading scorers. Tevin is averaging just over 13 points per game and Blake averages just over 11 points. When we need a big shot, that’s who we’re looking to get the ball to.”

Hicks is another leader on the court whose name may not always show up in the box score.

“Antoine Hicks is our leader,” Hornsby said. “He does so many things. Without his play, we wouldn’t be where we are.”

“Andrew Luck and Sterling Dailey do a good job on the boards. If we get six or eight points from those guys and 10 or 12 points, then we’re going to put ourselves in a pretty good position.”

Among those coming off the bench are Rodney Anderson, whom Hornsby called “quick and a good defender” and Rene Milington, “a lock down defender.”

Important district games loom this week, Tuesday at Northbrook and Friday at home against Spring Woods.

“Our goal for the rest of the season is to just take it one game at a time,” Hornsby said. “We just need to make sure we are taking care of our business and doing what we do. We need to keep control of the things that we can control. If we do that, I think we’ll put ourselves in a pretty good position.”

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