The Coppell boys basketball team opens District 6-6A play tonight at 7:30 p.m. against Lewisville at CHS Arena.

“Lewisville’s got some new players coming in this year,” Coppell coach Clint Schnell said. “With some of the players that are back from last year, they’re going to be really physical, really disruptive defensively in what they do. Looking at Lewisville, their big shooter Rakai Crawford is going to be big for them. Some of their new transfer players are going to be big for them as well.”

Despite the incoming challenge, the Cowboys plan to effectively combat Lewisville’s aggression in today’s game

“We’re going to have to be prepared to handle the pressure they put on us defensively and go out and execute what we do,” Schnell said. “We have to slow down what they’re trying to do to us offensively.”

In preparation for the intensity of the game, the strategic scheduling of opponents has been highly beneficial.

“Part of what we’ve been trying to do is schedule some opponents, like even the game [on Dec. 5 against Mesquite Horn], that plays a similar style to what Lewisville’s going to play,” Schnell said.

By utilizing experience from similar playing styles of other opponents, Coppell players have gained more familiarity with what to do for their game against Lewisville.