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Through winter, the basketball craze in Winchester seems dedicated to the highly ranked George Rogers Clark High School Lady Cards and Cards. 

However, there’s a fortune to be found elsewhere, too. 

Recently, the seventh grade boys’ basketball team at Robert D. Campbell Junior High School finished as conference runner-up among six competitive teams from counties including Harrison, Bourbon, and Fayette. 

“I got lucky to have the group that I did,” said Head Coach Travis Purvis, who – along with Assistant Coach Blake Jackson – was in his first year leading the program. “There was a huge learning curve…[but] once we got past that, we did pretty well in my opinion.” 

The Cards, who finished 10-6 overall with a competitive non-conference schedule, were 7-3 in conference play. 

The tournament, held at Elkhorn Middle School in Frankfort, featured a pair of semifinal matchups before the championship game. 

After winning their first matchup, the Cards went to the championship game before finishing in second place. 

The squad included Jayden Hisle, Carson Blackwell, Jack Swartz, and Corey Ray. 

Ray, in particular, was singled out as the starting point guard. 

“He was my best listener,” said Coach Purvis. “He did pretty much everything we told him, and he soaked it up like a sponge…it’s pretty impressive for [someone] that young.” 

However, Purvis emphasized that their strength as a unit helped set them apart. 

“This was a really good team,” he said. 

According to one parent who wished to remain anonymous, being on the court together continuously has helped in this process. 

“Everyone on the team [contributes] to the game,” she said. “Some of them have been playing since the fifth grade…some of them have been playing [recreational] ball together.”

Purvis responded when asked how he’d seen the team grow throughout the season – a pivotal role in helping players develop for potential high school basketball. 

“They just all are better basketball players,” he said. “They understand the game better. That’s really what I was going for.” 

Purvis also noted that there were highlights off the court in his first year of coaching. 

“I enjoyed seeing many young men grow,” he added. “It took me back to how happy it used to make me.”