By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Brandon McDonnell said one thing he thought about, and even brought up to his team when he took the head coaching job three years ago, was why should Rossville boys basketball be two easy wins on anyone's schedule?
Rossville senior Jakoby McDonnell helped the Bulldawgs reach the Class 2A state tournament last season. [File photo/TSN]
“I wanted to make sure that we would be the ones that people look at the schedule and say, ‘Oh we play Rossville, it’s going to be tough for us.' We wanted to switch it around,” senior Jakoby McDonnell said.
This past season, Rossville finished 16-8 and made it to the state tournament before losing in the first round to Ell-Saline. That was the Bulldawgs' first state tournament appearance since 2011.
“They want that again,'' said Brandon McDonnell, a former Topeka High standout and Topeka West assistant. "For us to go down there and play at Bramlage, that was an experience in itself. It was amazing and that’s all I can say. For these guys, especially this group this year that are seniors, they were freshmen when I got hired.
"To see this development, and to see what has transpired as they get older, their IQ becomes a little wiser, getting bigger, taller and stronger, you’re seeing the benefits that we’ve worked so hard to get.”
McDonnell won seven games in his first season as a head coach and has won a combined 31 games the last two campaigns. Before that, the last time Rossville had double-digit wins was the 2016-2017 season.
Brock Bush, Tayson Horack, Cam Budura were some key pieces Rossville lost to graduation off last year's team, but McDonnell said the kids understand how much work goes into what they’re building and they had more numbers turn out this year than his first year on the job.
As the football team prepares for its state championship game on Friday, Rossville has been short-handed for the start of preseason practice, but he’s thrilled for some of those guys to take home some hardware this weekend and incorporate them after football season.
McDonnell may only have one day of practice with his full team before the Bulldawgs' first game on Dec. 2 but said the Bulldawgs are ready.
“They want this for this school and they want it for the community. They’re just itching to get in here and get started,” McDonnell said.
Rossville senior Jack Donovan was an All-Shawnee County Top 10 honoree last season after helping lead the Bulldawgs to the Class 2A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Cameron Miller earned Second 10 All-Shawnee County recognition last season for 16-8 Rossville. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Jack Donovan was an All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick last season while senior Cameron Miller was a Second 10 selection and Jacoby McDonnell received honorable mention.
Jakoby McDonnell, one of the senior leaders for the team, said the maturity from everyone has progressed tremendously from day one. Defense is something Rossville will pride itself on and Jacoby said the fire his dad brings helps more.
“He always tells us that he doesn’t worry about him getting a technical foul if it gets us more hyped up. He shouldn’t be the only one giving energy, we need to as well when we’re on the court and that has shown,” Jakoby said.
Brandon McDonnell told TopSports.News that his passion for the game is unwavering and that he won’t sit down much unless a referee tells him to.
He loves that adversity is not scaring his players anymore and he’s happy to be more of a fan or cheerleader as he called it, because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
“The only reason why a lot of these things work is because you’re out there doing the hard work. I tell them all the time, I love them and appreciate everything they’ve done in order to turn this thing around,” McDonnell said.
