Boys basketball: Horizon boys to benefit from 23-game home slate

After spending a lot of time on a bus last year, the Horizon Honors boys basketball team will be playing closer to home this season.

But it won't be easy, coach Andy Acedo warns.

"We've got a rough schedule to start the season," Acedo said, "but I purposely made it hard before we start region play. You have to keep up with the top dogs."

The Eagles will be playing teams like defending state champion Northwest Christian as well as playoff teams like Scottsdale Christian and nearby rival, Valley Christian.

But Horizon will be seeing most of those teams on a 23-home schedule, the reverse of last season when the Eagles played those games on the road.

The Eagles finished with a 9-19 record last year and are returning only three starters.

"It's a young team, but I think we can be better than we were last year when we lost a lot of close games," Acedo said.

Some of that optimism comes from having a 6-foot-5 freshman like Taylor Hudzinski and Nick Dudley, a 6-4 sophomore.

Junior guard Joel Huss and JaHan Jones will be returning after a year of varsity experience.

"Our guards should be the strength of our team and we're taller there than last year," Acedo added.

The Eagles are also counting on Taylor Martin, a sophomore who was brought to the varsity during the season after starting the year with junior varsity.

Horizon is scheduled to play in the Greenway Invitational tournament, where it will see a lot of 4A competition over the Christmas break.

"We're going to have to grow up quick," Acedo said.