High School Sports Live Team of the Week

Bellaire Cardinals

The Bellaire Cardinals are ready to get the postseason underway as they enter it as the state's No. 1-ranked team and have owned the spot for nearly the entire season.

"That's history making," head coach Bruce Glover said. "We've never had a team, even before my tenure, where the team has been ranked No. 1 in the state and held that position for some time. We played a very, very demanding schedule early. We were very fortunate because we didn't lose guys."

"It makes everyone at the school proud – our teachers, our administrators," forward Kene Anyigbo said. "It makes us proud (because) we're the first in Bellaire history to be No. 1."

The Cardinals have gotten to No. 1 thanks to a lineup that includes four Division 1 signees – Tobi Oyedia has signed with Texas A&M, Sheldon McCllen is going to the University of Texas, Jamal Outler will play for Texas Tech and Anyigo is headed to Western Kentucky. Sebastian Douglas has yet to make a decision but has offers from Western Kentucky and the University of Houston.

"Everybody gets to do their thing," Douglas said. "We know our roles. We just go out and do what we have to do."

"It's crazy to have a team like this," Outler said. "We just have to put everything together and get all the way to State."

The Cardinals are hoping to build on last year's devastating ending. They suffered a stunning upset early on in the playoffs with internal issues leading to the exit. But this season is different. There has been a total team effort on and off the court.

"We're sharing the ball with five guys constantly defending the ball," Glover said. "Right now, we have a team night so once a week they get together and bond. We do the same thing with the coaches."

"Last year wasn't really good for us," Anyigbo said. "This year we took some time to become a team on and off the court so we're a lot closer this year."

And a lot closer to a state championship.