June 4, 2019 (More photos - Album1, Album2) - The Shelbyville Dragons had a final celebration for winning the basketball 2019 2A State Champion title with a ring ceremony on Monday, June 3, 2019. Players also enjoyed a steak meal provided by Aurora Concepts in their honor.
Teammate Kurtrick Allen gave the invocation followed by Coach David Benbow giving the welcome, "Welcome everyone to this celebration of the 2019 2A Basketball Championship and Go Dragons! Not many communities are ever blessed to get to be part of such celebration and in the case of Shelbyville this is our third opportunity to get to celebrate a basketball state championship from 1982, 1984, and now 2019 collection of Dragons!" Benbow gave thanks to everyone who has contributed, donated, and supported the team on its journey including ending with the fans of Shelbyville, Texas who showed out to fill up the Alamo Dome.
Coach David Schmitt also gave praise to the fans which includes the parents of the players for going above and beyond for anything needed. Schmitt continued, "This is probably the easiest job I've had in my 30-year career. I couldn't do it without (Superintendent) Dr. West, (HS Principal) Mario Osby, two guys who anytime I need something they never told me no. They helped me out whenever I needed to help the kids out where ever needed. And people in the community may not realize they are kid first people, both of them."
The coaches presented cheerleaders and managers with metals for their support of the team during the season. Awards were presented to each player for achievements throughout the season along with a certificate from the State of Texas for their achievement of winning the State Championship.
The 2019 2A State Champion Basketball Team members are #00 Marcus Horton, #3 LD Coleman, #4 Kolby Parker, #5 Jay Buckley, #10 AJ Cartwright, #11 Kaleb Campbell, #12 Jakivian Calhoun, #15 Jordan Boykins, #21 Kurtrick Allen, #23 H'Leighen McClelland, #24 Cole Ferguson, #31 John Quintero, #32 Jaylon Brinson, #33 Colt Leach, #34 Keyshawn McCollister, and #35 Kel Wilson. Head Coach is David Schmitt. Assistant coaches are Chris Moore, Joe Boykins, and Zach Hubbard. Athletic Director is David Benbow and videographer is Trey Smith. Managers are DJ Barnes, Franydric Buckley, Eli Ferguson, Kason Parker, Jayvion Barnes, and Dallas Murry.
After presenting awards, Coach Schmitt gave appreciation to all his coaching staff for their hard work throughout the season.
Atheletes presented a gift to Mrs. Jan West for her assistance during the games and season. Also, they presented a plaque to Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison for her help. Trey Smith said, "Thank you Mrs. Allison for going above and beyond your job description as County Judge. It is because of your love for your community and pride in our school that we were honored at the State Capital. We appreciate all your hard work on our behalf. This has truly been a once in a lifetime experience." Accepting the plaque on behalf of Judge Harbison was her daughter, Summer Koltonski.
Joe Tom Schillings, coach of the 1982 and 1984 Championship teams and current school board member, then spoke, "Its an honor for me to speak to you. It was an honor that Dr. West allowed me to put the metals around your necks. I am proud to be a Dragon. I am proud to be from Shelbyville. I am proud of you guys. Y'all have continued the legacy that we started back in the 80s. We want the legacy to continue, you guys coming back have got a good core, we feel like you could repeat."
He continued, "Thinking about 2018, we were down in San Antonio, we ran into a lion - a tiger and we got beat. In the stands our fans said 'don't worry we'll be back next year.' And we did. Coach Schmitt bought into this. We ended up this year 37-3. Shelbyville has never won 37 ball games before, I doubt that we ever will again - 37 is a lot of ball games to win in one season. Coach Schmitt told me as we came home that he was going to build a schedule that would make us as tough as anybody in San Antonio in 2018-19. And he did. We played the roughest this year that Shelbyville has ever played. From the first tournament we went to, he went down to Hardin Jefferson, we're the smallest school down there. Really and truly in the back of my mind, I'm thinking - Lord what have you done. We took on 4A schools, 5A schools, 3A schools; we got beat one time. We played six ball games in three days - we won 5 (games) and got beat by a 4A (school). And then we end up on the other side of Texas up top, we played good teams from Oklahoma. We go up there and we really expected to have more competition but when we go schools found out we were coming, all of a sudden they had something else to do. They tended to drop out. And so then we go to the holiday hoops in Tenaha. And you know, the year before that we got beat in Tenaha and we were eager to get back. We wanted to take on Lipan; Lipan has been a powerhouse for years. And we got beat but we learned a lot. And then we go through district, I mean, he's got us ready, we are ready to play - we'll take on anybody. We win all our district ballgames and we are going into playoff and we have an open day. So, guess who he gets, he finds the roughest 3A team he could find within 300 miles and they come to Tenaha and they beat us. They too end up in San Antonio; Coach Schmitt had us ready. He had you guys ready to play. Once we get into the playoffs, pretty easy running, we had played all the tough teams around and then we go down to the state tournament, piece of cake, wasn't nothing to it, we just walk through there. So, Coach Schmitt, 'Thank you.'"
Schillings ended with encouraging the players to enjoy their year as the 'king of the mountain' because it will be gone before you know it. To the players returning, he said, "Remember, that the road to San Antonio runs through Shelbyville."
Bro. Rob Merriman finished the ring ceremony with the honor of presenting the rings to the players and coaches with the help of Dr. West and Joe Tom Schillings. Bro. Merriman expressed appreciation to the coaches, "We've got some guys who spent time coaching with Coach Schmitt... Coach David Schmitt was so instrumental in making sure that the boys cared about life lessons as they played this game. Coach David Schmitt - we thank you for all the hours. Coach Hubbard, Coach Boykins, Coach Moore - thanks for leading these guys."
The players lined up with their boxes and opened them together so they could see their rings for the first time together in front of all the family members and fans present.
