If you have spent any time in the gym, then you have seen Coach Dukes and know his reputation on the court. Dukes is the coach of the Lady Panthers volleyball team and the boys varsity basketball team. The Lady Panthers finished an impressive undefeated season with Coach Dukes, and he is looking forward to an equally successful season with the basketball team. 

“I feel confident we’ll have another successful one like last year,” he said.

The new Panthers basketball team has the ability to go all the way, like previous years.  Dukes said, “There are a few additions—new people on the team that I hope to get on the same page as the returning players.”

Junior Terrance Fontanelle is new to MATHS and is adjusting to his new team.  “Terrance is a great shooter; once he gets a feel for his team, they’ll be good to go.”

As most already know, the Panthers are stepping outside their comfort zone and are going against some city schools this season. I asked Dukes if he sees these schools as competition. He responded, “It’s always a competition, but our playing city schools is great because it allows us to make a name for ourselves and to get more college coaches to see our players.”

Dukes thinks his team will push past their achievements from past years, and they are well on their way. The Panthers first game against a city school was against Northwestern—they blew them out by 22 points.

Coach Dukes is a Philly native. He played basketball for his high school team and went on the play for Maryland’s own Morgan State Bears in college on a basketball scholarship. He said that coaching basketball brings back memories. “Sometimes I wish I could trade spots with my players and just destroy the other teams.”

Coach Dukes plans on spending his Christmas break at home in Philly with his family, but that will be short-lived because the Panthers have games during the break. We wish the Panthers and Coach Dukes all the best and look forward to their giving us more to be proud of.