Straight out of Lyles Middle School, she walked into the LC doors and knew she was a force to be reckoned with. Her conduct and drive makes Bri an unstoppable player. Even as a freshman, she was a starting point guard and, clearly, has continued this legacy to her junior year. Also in her freshman year, she helped lead the Lady Patriots into the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, the team didn’t make it all the way, but she is proud that they were able to make it to the first round. Her main focus this season is to attribute hard work and dedication as a leader to her teammates and as a student.

When you’re playing what’s your motivation? Who motivates you?

  “My mom motivates me, because she does everything for me, she’s at every game,and she does a lot for me.”

How long have you been playing basketball?

“I’ve been playing basketball since 3^rd grade.”

What does basketball do for you?

“It’s an outlet; it keeps me focused, and helps to keep my grades up in order to play.”

Do you plan on going farther with the sport? How do you plan on doing it?

“Yes, by working hard pushing myself and making sure I stay on top of my grades.”

What flaw do you have, what’s your weakness?

“My weakness is my court awareness and being able to see everything as a point guard.”

What is your greatest strength?

“My greatest strength is my speed and experience.”

What are you looking forward to this season?

“ I’m looking to just playing with my teammates, winning games, hopefully winning district, going to playoffs, and playing under a great coaching staff.”

How does this year’s team differ from last year’s team?

“Most of us having been playing together for two and three years and we’ve built a bond. While last year there was a lot of drama because people had their own clicks.”

What are the challenges you have to face as a player?

“Once challenge is that I have to face losing my sister as a teammate. I also have to face reaching a lot of great expectations my coaches and teammates set for me.”

How do you take the criticism people throw at you and your teammates?

“Peoples’ cristism makes me want to try harder and prove them wrong.”

What is the number one thing to remember in the game of basketball?

“That the game’s only 32 minutes so play hard the whole time.”

What’s one fear your teammates need to overcome?

“They need to overcome defeat!”

Do you believe you and your teammates are ready for the season? Why?

“Yes, I do believe we are ready for the season, because we work hard and practice just seems different this year, so do people’s attitudes.”

Who do you think will be the hardest team to defeat in the district?

“The hardest team I think will be Garland.”

How is your coach preparing you and your teammates for this upcoming season?

“Our coach is working hard all the time, doing things that will benefit us and making sure we’re always in the gym.”

What are your plans for this upcoming season?

“I plan on being one of the top guards in the district and the area. I also plan on making first in all district AGAIN.”

GET READY FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON FROM BRI AND HER TEAMMATES! WATCH HER AND HER TEAMMATES KICK OFF THE SEASON WITH A BANG!

LET’S GO LC LADY PATRIOTS!!!!

It was just another day for football at LC. The hallways were content with patriot spirit, as the blue Lakeview Centennial shirts out glowed every student present. Everyone, from Minutemen to band members, were dressed up and ready to go. With determined to get the crowd pumped up while having fun. 

“After the pep rally I was happy as can be!” excited junior Color Guard member, Gisselle Garcia said. “I am ready for the team to beat North tonight.”

Everyone knew that this game was important, because LC wanted to keep the Raiders with no wins and all loses. In the first half, the raiders were determined to not go down easily, however, the Patriots weren’t either and both teams kept each other at a stand still until halftime.

“This is a very intense game,” senior James Duke said. “I can’t wait to see what happens after halftime.”

Both teams were ready to lay it out all on the field after halftime. The Raiders scored first with Dai’Qwan Washington running for an 81-yard touchdown. The Patriots would answer back by shutting him down for the rest of the night. Lakeview would deliver a 2 yard touchdown from Styles Winston to keep the game tied. Before the 3^rd quarter was over, the Raiders would take the lead with a 38 yard field goal to make the score 10-7.

“I was frightened thinking the raiders were going to win,” varsity Cheerleader Elizabeth Allen said. “But then I thought how bad the boys wanted it and how they beat Naaman, so I regained faith in the team and just knew they were going to win!”

 A minute into the final quarter, Denton Edwards would connect with Jarvis Baxter for a 44 yard touchdown pass that would reclaim the lead. The Patriot defense would keep the Raiders from scoring anymore for the rest of the night and the Patriots win it 14-10.

“This was the first game I went to that we won so it was so much fun,” junior Elisabet Azpiolea commented.

A win from the Raiders was exactly what Lakeview need to boost their confidence into the final game of the season against Rowlett. Maybe next year Lakeview will shine their helmets into the playoff picture once again.

On Sept. 8, in the game against Rockwall Heath,  the patriots were very close to winning a victory with a score of 20-14. Football players and fans truly believed they could have won, if errors in their defense and offense were corrected sooner.

“In the last 30 seconds they had a touchdown,” disappointed senior Styles Winston (RB) replied.

On Sept. 15, in the hallway pep rally, patriots cheered for the LC football team. The football players were ready and pumped, like always, for their game against McKinney Boyd, but unfortunately loss, in a close game,  3-1.

In spite of their close game, they still remain confident. And the patriot varsity team still hopes for the best.

“I feel good about tonight’s game, I feel like we have a chance at victory,” senior  Glendez Witherspoon (WR) exclaimed.

Students and faculty went to the game sporting royal blue and gold supporting  their players. The football players gave it their best effort and put in all their heart, but, unfortunately, was not enough to come home with a win.

“Going to be hard but we’re going to come out with a win,” confident senior  Styles Winston (RB) replied.

In the first half junior Jarvis Baxter (WR). They were almost tied in the first half with a score of 7- 14. The team had a chance to make a touchdown before halftime, but failed to seize the opportunity.

“I think they played hard. They stayed in the game,” replied Dr. Hudson, Lakeview’s principal, who attended the game to supply support to varsity football.

Lakeview players perservered with hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship. Ultimately it wasn’t enough. This notorious game ended with a score of 14-58.

“I felt a little sad. The team they played seemed tougher than other teams,” Dr. Hudson stated, regarding the outcome of the game.

Dr. Hudson wasn’t the only one that felt upset about the outcome of the game.

“It was unfortunate. We proved that one mistake can snowball into a bunch. When you have momentum, you have to take advantage of it,” Coach Franklin encouraged.

Although Lakeview’s Boys Varsity basketball’s team did not get the results that they’ve worked extremely hard for, the boys have put up a fight for their name and dignity.  Because of the Patriots’ fight and dignity, they’ve managed to experience the State Championship, in Austin, for the second time.

“It was a great feeling to be back to back state finalist because we’ve worked so hard…but we planned to bring our trophy home,” varsity player Toddrick Gotcher said.

Returning back to Austin two years in a row, Lakeview’s varsity boys are no rookies when it comes to playing like State champions. Reviewing their own mistakes, they’ve have become critiques in the game of basketball.

“In order to win the State Championship game, the upcoming players cannot let up on any plays; keep working hard. Keep fighting!” Gotcher said.

The majority of the team players have been playing together, as a team, for approximately six years, which has enhanced how well they all play together. Doing so, winning games has been a breeze for Lakeview’s boys.

“The chemistry throughout the team, working hard, and practice wins games,” varsity player Jamarlas (Tez) Dumars remarked. “We wouldn’t have dominated so many teams, if we hadn’t had a great bond amongst each other.”

Along the way of being well acquainted with each other, whether it’s been two years or six, they’ve made some of the greatest memories together.

“As a first year Varsity player, my greatest memory with my team was winning State regional’s because I have never been to Austin before. I made it there my first year; that’s rare,” junior Terelle (Skip) Lewis says.

In spite of varsity basketball team not bringing home the trophy, they continue to walk around with their heads held high and with pride, like winners should.  They all agreed on areas that they could have worked on, in order to bring the gold home, in the future.

“In the first half of the championship, we could have pressed a lot better.” Jamarlas said.

For many of our boys, they won’t be able to bring the final win home here at Lakeview, but will continue their legacy on to their colleges/ universities.

“At West Texas A&M, I’m willing to bring hard work, drive, and practice that wins games to their school. I’ve done a lot of that! ” Jamarlas remarks.

However, for the last two years, we’ve set high goals and expectations, for not only ourselves, but for GISD, as well. They expect to continue to see great things from our school.

by Ashley Tarver

Sweating countless hours of hard work in the gym and on the court, senior Toddrick Gotcher has been preparing for this his whole life.

With twenty plus basketball scholarship offers from schools all around the country, he’s finally committed to becoming a Texas Tech Red Raider.

Gotcher has been playing and perfecting his skills since the age of two. Accumulating 599 points and averaging about 18 points per game in the 09-10 basketball season and several colleges had taken noticed. They all wanted the hardworking, talented basketball star for their school, but he had only five on his mind.

“I was thinking about going to West Virginia, Baylor, San Diego, USC [University of South Carolina], and Texas Tech,” Gotcher said.

Visiting and researching each of his top choices, led to Gotcher making the ultimate choice. He had decided carefully to attend Texas Tech next year.

“I had the opportunity to go there and play right away, playing both point and shooting guard. Tech was close to home,” Gotcher said. “It was best for my family and the education is great. I felt at home when doing my college visit.”

Gotcher also has bigger and better plans for going to Texas Tech. Not only does he want to play basketball there, he also plans to use more than just their court and get a communications major and become a sports analyst.

“Texas Tech has a pretty good communications program, so it would put me in the position to become a sports analyst later on after my basketball career,” Gotcher said. “And maybe one day be on NBA TV or something like it.”

Varsity coach, J.T. Locklear, has been coaching Gotcher for several years now. He recognizes and praises him of high standards from being a basketball player to a young gentleman.

“[Gotcher] is a tremendous player and young man. He does everything we ask and is always doing the right thing,” Coach Locklear said. “He never does anything to jeopardize us a team.”

Toddrick Gotcher is one of the most talked about and hardworking Patriot basketball team players. He doesn’t let the success or hype go to his head and remains a humble gentleman.

“I’m blessed to have the opportunity,” Gotcher said.