By all means, it was just another business trip for the College Park boys basketball team. Games were to be played. Growth was to expected to lead into 2024.
But with veteran educator and head coach Clifton McNeely in charge of the trip last week to San Diego for his No. 18-ranked Cavaliers, some learning and fun were certainly mixed in.
The result of the trip to the west coast is a strengthened bond between members of the team. A strengthened bond could result in reachable goals — like a District 13-6A championship — and then, perhaps, a long and successful playoff run.
"When you go to an overnight tournament like that, we're all together," McNeely said. "We're riding in the same minivans. We get to learn each other's quirks. Everybody jokes with each other. They pick on the coaches. They pick on each other. All of those things, in the end, when you get out here and you play, you don't want to let your teammate down. And so when you don't want to let your teammate down, that just makes you stronger as a teammate and makes you stronger as a unit."
The Cavaliers visited Belmont Park, an oceanside amusement park, as well as the San Diego Zoo and a visit to Mission Beach.
"That's a big part of this family," McNeely said. "We're a high school basketball team, and the bottom line in the end is we have to make it educational."
When College Park returned home, it toppled New Caney on Tuesday night as district play picked back up.
Cavaliers scoring leader Aiden Buckmon knocked down six 3s and totaled 30 points in the 91-46 win over the Eagles.
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