
Freshman Johnny Watt drives to the basket. Watt scored 13 for the Rays.
He believes better things lie ahead for this team that has just one senior. He also believes that the things he wants most for this team they have already achieved.
“Unfortunately, there’s not a story now,” Barry said following the loss to Seacrest, a middle-of-the-pack team in the eight team District 8 that MIA competes in. “We’re hoping there’s going to be a story in a year or two. I want to make sure by the end of the season they all love the game and they love each other.”

Freshman Kevin Barry, the leading scorer for the Rays, gets some advice.
“I thought we kind of got blown out in the first quarter then we played with them for the rest of the game,” Barry said. “We’re playing a lot of more experienced teams and so we’re starting to try to build something young.”
The Rays, 4-12 overall and 0-7 in-district, have a starting lineup comprised of three freshmen, a sophomore and a senior. There’s not a lot of firepower in reserve.
“I had seven kids come out for the basketball program,” Barry said. “Since then I’ve gotten a couple more. It’s tough at a small school when you have seven kids come out for the team. But we’ve come leaps and bounds from the first games. We have four ninthgraders on the team and I’m trying to get them to just play tougher, stronger defense. And I thought that we did that.”

MIA’s Kyler Howard during the game against Seacrest.

Brenden Howard scored 10 points for MIA.
The leading scorer for the Rays was Barry’s son, freshman Kevin Barry, who finished with 21 points, including four three-pointers. Fellow-freshman Johnny Watt scored 13, sophomore Dominic Moller 12, on four three-pointers. Senior Brenden Howard, who at 6’4” is the team’s lone big man, scored 10 points.

MIA Rays’ Seth Hooks Photos by Scott H. Shook
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