Davenport West boys basketball hearing a lot of cheers this season. Falcons beating Pleasant Valley for the first time in 17 years and a win over the leaders, North Scott, has them second in the MAC standings.

“We get down a lot bit and we stay as brothers,” forward Devante Bradford said. “We know what were doing this far so we can’t give up. We’ve been waiting for this. The last years record wise, we haven’t been great. This year we have everything we’ve been wanting.”

Over the circumstances we had this summer, it’s turned these guys in to different kinds of young men,” head coach Dave Robinson said. “It’s pushed them to be better than they thought they were.

Playing for their fallen teammate, Jermilyn Garden, the Falcons found new leaders. The biggest? Idris Thomas, who leads the MAC in scoring. “I”

t motivates me everyday to be better and do better. I knew I had to be the one to step up,” Thomas said. “The main leader. Score more. I had a different mindset coming in to this year.”

“He pushes his teammates and his teammates help push him to be even better. He’s taking all that confidence and he’s distancing himself from everyone else in the conference,” Robinson said.

Thomas, scores just over 19 a game. Joining him among the best? Teammate Devante Bradford, who averages 13.5. Top five in the MAC.

It’s always been like that for me and Idris. We knew each other can score and pass,” Bradford said. “Hit those open shots. We’re a duo. It’s going to stay the same the rest of the season and just keep winning and contributing to our team.

“He’s my best friend off the court so I know he has my back and I have his,” Bradford said. “Really good connection between us.

The key to keeping this 12-4 season going? Continuing to support.

“We love that our fans are coming out. We want them to know it makes a big difference to our guys you support them,” Robinson said. “We didn’t see much of that from the previous years but it’s made a difference and each guy feels special about themselves because of it. That’s going to be a big return for our community.”

Next up? A stretch of four road games starting Friday against North.