By Michael Adams 
madams@onthesidelinessports.com 

THRALL – A noticeable thing missing at the gymnasium at Thrall High School are banners representing the school’s athletic achievements, especially in basketball.    

That is about to change.  

On Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Thrall (30-5) will make the school’s first ever appearance at the UIL boys basketball tournament.  

Success in basketball hasn’t really been a thing for the Class 2A high school nestled 35 miles east of the bustling heart of Austin. 

The Tigers 30 wins this season is the most in the last 15 years. In fact, the 2024 campaign is the first winning season for a Thrall boys basketball team in that same time period.  

There’s been a few playoff appearances here and there, but often resulted in first-round exits.  

“As you can see, there’s not a lot of banners in here,” said senior guard Breken Proctor. “This is something special for this community, and to be able to represent this town and give them a feeling a pride, it’s just a great feeling.”  

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At a leisurely practice on Wednesday, the Tigers were hard at work with the reality of the magnitude of making it to the state tournament still settling in.  

“I’m a little nervous, a little excited,” said senior guard Ethan Dahl. “It still hasn’t set in yet. Sometimes it feels like we’re just playing, it doesn’t feel like our last game will be this weekend. 

“ We’ve never experienced anything like it, and honestly, I never thought I would.”  

So, what’s the secret to the success?  

A blue-collar mentality mixed with toughness and small-town values, says Proctor.  

“Our motto is faith, family, accountability and toughness,” he said. “Toughness is huge. It’s just one of those things. Small towns have it.”  

Proctor and several of his other teammates also work jobs after school while managing basketball and multiple sports.  

Even head coach Charles Tindol was pulling triple duty this week with teaching and coaching the golf teams and preparing the Tigers for the state tournament.  

“We wear many hats around here,” Tindol said. “I was at a golf tournament on Monday and (Wednesday), then had to come back here for basketball practice.”  

That work ethic stretches across the entire Thrall basketball team.  

“I’d like to stay and watch some of the other games, cheer on Stony Point, but I have work right after, so I’ll see if I can do that,” Dahl said. “I’m not sure how we fit it all in (school, basketball and jobs), it’s crammed in there.” 

Jobs and schoolwork will be the last thing on anyone’s mind on the basketball team or the community when Thrall. Most of the town and schools will make the drive down I-35 to cheer on the Tigers as they take on Shelbyville.  

The Alamodome will be the biggest arena any of the Tigers have played in, but players say having the community behind them will make it feel a lot smaller.  

“I’m sure when we walk in, we’re going to be in awe of it, but when the ball tips, it will be all business,” said senior Carson Ball. “The support means so much to us. There’s nothing going to a regional final and seeing the entire town in the stands.”  

Thrall moves up to Class 3A next year., so “going out with a bang” is the goal this weekend.

“The job’s not finished,” Ball said.