Independence High, senior Kaleb Jasper ‘one step closer to our goals’ in NCHSAA playoffs

Ever since Independence High’s 2023-24 boys basketball season ended at defending N.C. 4A champion Myers Park in the third round of the playoffs, the Patriots had high aspirations for this season.

On Tuesday night, Independence (23-5) is back in the same position.

Only this the Patriots are at home against Chambers in the third round of this year’s playoffs.

“I was here last year and I’m trying to keep that winning going,” Patriots senior guard Kaleb Jasper said. “We’ve talked about it every day since we lost last year to Myers Park. We wanted to get at least this far again.”

Jasper is the lone returning starter from last year’s 20-9 team that also returned key reserves Lusemo Macharia and Jaxon Neely as well as Carter Lee, Ayden Davis and Omarion Burgess.

“At this point in time, it’s always good to win,” Independence coach Preston Davis said. “There’s a lot of teams that would love to be in our shoes. You can’t take that for granted.

“So we’re excited. We have goals and we’re one step closer to our goals. We’re know we’re going to have a tough matchup but we’re excited for the opportunity.”

Davis knows that as well as anyone in the school’s 59-year history. After all, Davis was a player in 1997 when Independence won its first state title and was head coach when the Patriots won their second in 2018.

Now is his 16th year as head coach at his high school alma mater, Davis even has one of his 1997 teammates, shooting guard Gordon Tucker, on his coaching staff.

“When you play for a state championship and win it, you’ll never forget it,” Davis said. “I’ve got guys on my bench like Gordon who knows about that as well. I think It’s good to have guys with the experience of winning and that’s good to have guys that can talk to the team about that. We tell them, ‘Don’t take these moments for granted because it’s extremely hard to win.’

“Obviously, when you get the playoffs, it’s tougher games because you’re facing better competition. Right now, these guys are writing their own history.”

Macharia (10.5 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game) is the leader of a balanced attack that also gets solid production from Neely (10.0 points, 6.2 rebounds), Jasper (8.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists) and newcomers Daniel Waritay (7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds) and Nick Barnes (7.2 points).

So far in the playoffs, Independence has won a pair of defensive-minded contests — rolling past Palisades 54-34 on Feb. 25 in the opening round and outlasting Mooresville 48-46 last Friday.

“We’re super comfortable in that kind of game because we’re a ‘defense first’ team,” Jasper said. “We practice that every day. “It’s very exciting to be in the third round. We’re happy to be here and looking to win even more games.”