Coach Garrett Ruppel inherited a Rocky Bayou boys basketball team that went 7-16 last season and hadn’t posted a winning record or made the playoffs in nine years.
- Now the Knights are 11-3 and ranked No. 16 in their classification — the best start in program history.
“That’s never happened here before,” Ruppel said. “This is a special group.”
Ruppel, hired in April, has built a reputation as a program builder in his five years as a head coach. At Bell Creek Academy in Riverview, he took the Panthers from seven wins to the Sweet 16 in three years. At Destin, he guided the Sharks to a winning record despite FHSAA restrictions that barred them from postseason play.
But Ruppel is quick to credit his players for the turnaround.
- “I have to give a lot of credit to our players. It’s about these guys,” Ruppel said. “This is a group full of guys attempting to accomplish something special, trying to do something here at this school, and I’m very blessed to be their coach.”
The player most crucial to Rocky Bayou’s success followed Ruppel across the bay from Destin: Calix McClune. The guard is averaging 18.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He recently crossed the 1,000-point threshold for his career against Freeport and was honored in a pregame ceremony before the Knights’ game against Destin.
“He’s a winner,” Ruppel said. “Unbelievable character, phenomenal person, and I’m blessed to be his coach.”
Harrison Sanders has emerged as the team’s second-leading scorer while contributing on the boards and with steals. McCabe Olin leads the team in rebounding, and Xavier Crawford — another player who followed Ruppel from Destin — has developed into a reliable 3-and-D wing.
Ruppel sees room for growth, particularly on the defensive end.
- “We’ve got to do a better job defensively, on the boards specifically,” he said. “But as we continue to grow, heading into January, if we can become a complete team rebounding-wise, I like our chances.”
If the Knights keep playing like they have, they could make noise in the playoffs — something Rocky Bayou hasn’t experienced in nearly a decade.
