Originally appeared on Vype.com

It’s not often a new high school is born. A chance to build school spirit and create a culture is rare.

In Alvin ISD, that rare opportunity has come along and its name is the Shadow Creek Sharks – a school just nine miles away from the powerhouse, now-rival Manvel High School.

Shadow Creek has long been rumored to be a school that could not only rival but also surpass the athletic excellence in every sport that Manvel has garnered. Granted, the football teams’ first varsity season is just around the corner in late 2017, the basketball team has made some major waves early in the season.

Shadow Creek boy’s basketball finished its inaugural varsity season 3-9 in district play just a year ago. Ironically, you could say they were in a shark tank of 23-5A last season with four of the state’s Top 25 teams in Elkins, Texas City, Manvel and state finalist Marshall Buffs.

For a team with no varsity experience or established culture, it’s safe to say it was an uphill battle. Even Tyron Henry, Shadow Creek senior guard, would agree.

“Last year, we were a young team that just got thrown in the fire and wasn’t ready. It was a tough year,” Henry said. “Now, we have learned from the little things from last year, which can help us win games.”

With only three district wins in 2017, the playoffs weren’t in the cards for the young Sharks, but last season gave signs of the things to come.

A 53-50 win over rival and state- ranked Manvel for the first time in any sport was a great consolation prize for a rough first season.

Shadow Creek started the 2017- 2018 season with a bang, running through some of the best teams in not only the city, but also the state. They defeated Manvel and Marshall – last year’s regional finalist in Region 3 of the UIL Playoffs.

With 10 wins already this season, the Sharks have set the foundation for their best varsity season yet.

According to Henry, he and his teammates don’t expect to just start the season hot, but have bigger goals in mind.

“We expect to keep doing what we’re doing and keep winning games to make it to the playoffs,” Henry said.

The Sharks are ready for the weekly battle inside 23-5A, and are not led by one prolific player, but as a unit.

The ability of skilled guards Elijah Brand and Henry, add the range of Akin Newton and combine the experiences of last year’s inaugural season, District 23-5A could turn into shark bait.

This article appears in the January Issue of VYPE Magazine. Pick up your copy at any one of our locations today!