By Chuck Reherman
Sports Editor
When it comes to backcourts in high school basketball, you can say that Southwest Covenant’s duo takes a “back seat” to no one.
The backcourt duo of senior Will Haas and junior Kirk Cole has been the key factor in the Patriots run to a district title and an aim at a return to the class A state tournament.
Haas and Cole have been high school teammates for only two years, but have also played AAU ball together. In those two high school years, the pair has developed a chemistry that has led the team to a 14-5 record against a mainly a schedule of 2A and 3A teams.
That chemistry paid off this past Saturday in the Area III District 2 finals where Cole scored a school record 44 points thanks to a double digit assist night from Haas.
“We have played together for a long time,” Haas said. “We have played since we were small and even though we have played high school ball for two seasons, it has really developed the chemistry. The first year wasn’t as good as it could have been, but we have figured it out this year.”
“We had grown up together and played junior high and now high school and it has helped with the chemistry and knowing where we are on the floor and find the right passes.”
Two years ago, Haas was counted on being the main scorer on the team, but has evolved into more of a pure point guard the last two seasons. Haas still does average close to 16 point a game, while Cole leads the team with 23, but it’s Haas’ passing that has giver Cole and other teammates the high percentage shots.
“Coach (Kevin Cobbs) told me at the first of the year that Kirk can score so you are going to have to help him do that,” Haas said. “My job this season is to get him to score as well as all my teammates and make them look good.
“And, also score if I get the opportunity,” he said. “I don’t care if I score 10 points a game or whatever, as long as other people are scoring I am fine with it. Getting a win is all that matters.”
“We a good group of guys that have played together and that has made this season go a lot easier,” Cole said. “The one thing about this group is we are playing as a team and not just guys our there.”
The one thing the pair has their mind on is winning the next two weekends and playing for that gold ball.
“Our main goal is to get a state title, this is the year to do it,” Haas said. “We have all the weapons to do it, so we have to come out and go what we have been doing all season and stay in our same mind set.
“We have been looking for the playoffs all season and getting that gold ball is what we have been preparing for,” Cole said. “We are ready to go out and compete and show them what we are made of.”
“Will is just a floor general out there
