Fort Worth, TX - Both Charger basketball programs are entering the final countdown to their 2023-24 seasons and expectations are high for both programs. The schedules vary greatly though as the Lady Chargers open up their season with a three-game home stand before they hit the road for the remainder of their non-district schedule while the Chargers are just the opposite. The Chargers will play five of their seven non-district games on the road and will feature in tournaments in South San Antonio, Aledo, and wrap their non-district schedule up in Waco at the M.T. Rice Tournament just after Christmas.
Charger Basketball Looking To Reach Postseason For Fourth Consecutive Season
In his 17th season at Central, and 12th leading Charger Basketball, Coach Gerald Sledge has set up an absolute gauntlet of a non-district schedule. All but one of the nine teams they'll face off against made the UIL Playoffs in 2022-23, including two District Champions in Fort Worth Eastern Hill and Brewer, and three teams that reached the area round of the postseason.
The Chargers will open up their 2023-24 campaign November 10th when they take on District 9-4A Champions Eastern Hill at Mansfield Legacy High School.
Over the course of the next two weeks, Central will face Fort Worth Boswell, Arlington Bowie, and Everman, who will all be looking for revenge after falling to the Chargers last season. Central will host their home opener in the friendly confines of The Bolt November 21 against Denton High. Last year, the Chargers enjoyed tremendous home support and made The Bolt an incredibly difficult place to play, going 8-2 overall. Denton just missed out on the postseason last year after they finished fifth in a highly competitive District 7-5A.
| Scouting The Opposition - Charger Basketball |
| Date |
Opponent |
22-23 Record |
22-23 Result |
| Nov. 10 |
At FW Eastern Hills |
26-8 |
N/A |
| Nov. 11 |
At FW Boswell |
19-16 |
65-34 W |
| Nov. 14 |
At Arlington Bowie |
11-19 |
50-39 W |
| Nov. 17 |
At Everman |
15-13 |
71-53 W |
| Nov. 21 |
Vs Denton |
19-11 |
N/A |
| Nov. 28 |
At Grapevine |
21-14 |
55-45 W |
| Dec. 5 |
FW Brewer |
30-4 |
35-32 W |
| Dec. 12 |
South Grand Prairie |
20-14 |
54-47 W |
| Dec. 15 |
Birdville |
17-14 |
N/A |
Central will than head south for their first tournament of the year in San Antonio, before what will undoubtedly be the marquee matchup of their non-district schedule when they take on Fort Worth Brewer at home December 5th. The Bears went 30-4 overall and unbeaten in district play last year, and suffered a narrow 35-32 defeat at home to Central in last years matchup.
As the Charger's reach the middle of December, they'll open up district play on the road as they take on V.R. Eaton in Haslet December 19, followed by a short trip to Southlake to take on the defending district champion Carroll Dragons December 22.
The 2022-23 edition of Charger Basketball came out of the gates flying in district play, going 4-0, including key wins over Southlake and Byron Nelson and the Chargers will be looking to more of the same this season. If Central is to repeat their success though, it will come from a bunch of fresh faces as the Chargers return just three players and 11 percent of their scoring from last years roster. The program will be led by the senior trio of
Jordan Blair,
Aidan Daemon, and
Sean Mays.
| 2022-23 6A District 4 Boy's Basketball Final Standings |
| Place |
School |
District Record |
Overall Record |
| 1st |
Keller |
13-1 |
25-11 |
| 2nd |
Byron Nelson |
10-4 |
30-8 |
| 3rd |
Timber Creek |
9-5 |
23-11 |
| 4th |
Central |
8-6 |
22-11 |
| 5th |
Southlake Carroll |
6-8 |
20-12 |
| 6th |
Haltom |
5-9 |
14-16 |
| 7th |
V.R. Eaton |
4-10 |
14-17 |
| 8th |
Fossil Ridge |
1-13 |
4-25 |
Lady Chargers Thinking Postseason For First Time Since 2007
In year two of the Brittany Foster regime, the Lady Chargers have the UIL playoffs on their mind, and with good reason. The 2022-23 version of Lady Charger's Basketball demolished the previous record for wins in a season (18), going 23-14 overll, and just missed out on making just their second ever appearance in the UIL Postseason. The Lady Charger's graduated just three players from that team
(Desiree Sanchez, Laureen Emissah, Bralee Gant) and with eight returning players and the vast majority of their offensive output, expectations are high.
In particular, second year head coach Brittany Foster expects senior guard
Aubrey Wathen along with junior forward
J'Lynn Orozco to play a key role this season. Wathen goes into her senior season after being named to First Team All-District while Orozco was a Second Team All-District selection. Other key contributors will likely include senior
Alena Camensky and juniors
Valerie Guerrero and
Riley Maxwell, all of whom received All-District Honorable Mention honors last year.
Central will open up their season with three consecutive home games, beginning with Granbury Friday November 3. The Pirates are coming off the back of a 23-12 season and a trip to the Area Round of the UIL 5A Playoffs. The opposition won't get any easier for the Lady Chargers as they face off against a Glen Rose side that lost just two games last season, including a season ending loss to the eventual 4A State Champions La Vega in the UIL State Semifinals. Their three game home-stand ends with another top 4A team in Kaufman. The Lions finished runners-up in 4A District 14 play and also reached the Area Round of the UIL Playoffs.
The first road trip of the year takes the Lady Chargers to Carrollton Creekview. Last year's edition of the contests against Creekview saw Central claim a narrow 41-34 victory.
After a trip to Coppell for their tournament, games at Plano East and Prosper Rock HIll, and finally an appearance in the Cowtown Classic Tournament, the Lady Chargers will wrap up non-district play against 2022-23 5A Regional Semifinalists Colleyville Heritage and Saginaw.
While the Lady Charger's will be hoping for more non-district success,
(Central went 18-5 in non-district play last season) their main concern will come when district play opens December 15th when they host Keller. As always, life in District 4-6A will undoubtedly be a gauntlet and feature some of the best programs in the metroplex. Last year, both Southlake Carroll and Keller reached the UIL Regional Semifinals while Byron Nelson made an appearance in the Area round. The Lady Chargers will be looking to make just their second postseason appearance in program history, and last reached the UIL postseason during the 2006-07 season. Over the course of the last 15 seasons, Central has narrowly missed out on the playoffs finishing fifth in the district on four occasions, including last year.
In talking through the upcoming season, Coach Foster discussed how having a full offseason under her leadership, along with the new members of her staff, has played a huge role in heightened expectations. "I am really excited for this season, we have a couple new additions that I expect big things from. As a whole we have gotten better in the post season, summer, and pre-season, it has been really great to see. Our schedule has gotten a little tougher to prepare us for district, and we have big goals for playoffs this year and we have a great chance at finishing top four. My goal is to beat the teams we are supposed to beat and surprise some teams in our district." Foster added that "we are welcoming new coaches that bring so much basketball knowledge and energy that will help the program grow."
| 2022-23 6A District 4 Girl's Basketball Final Standings |
| Place |
School |
District Record |
Overall Record |
| 1st |
Southlake Carroll |
14-0 |
31-4 (UIL Regional Semifinalist) |
| 2nd |
Keller |
12-2 |
28-9 (UIL Regional Semifinalist) |
| 3rd |
Byron Nelson |
9-5 |
18-16 (UIL Area Round) |
| 4th |
Fossil Ridge |
8-6 |
16-18 |
| 5th |
Central |
5-9 |
23-14 |
| 6th |
V.R. Eaton |
4-10 |
12-16 |
| 7th |
Timber |
3-11 |
14-19 |
| 8th |
Haltom |
1-13 |
6-25 |
Keller ISD Athletics offers sports programs that help develop the whole student through athletics. KISD athletics programs will provide student-athletes opportunities to experience competition, leadership roles, self-improvement, goal setting, discipline, coachability, learning from setbacks, accountability, enhance academics, developing positive character traits, and being part of a team. In partnership with families and community, the mission of Central High School is to inspire in all students the desire to learn, the courage to lead, the value of proven character, and the commitment to serve. More information about Central and its coaches, student-athletes and teams is available at
Centralchargerathletics.com
