Inside a dank gym on the “east side” of town, Pop Williams does things the old-fashioned way.
The way he dresses hasn’t changed in years, and neither has the way he coaches.
For the last five years, it looked like his style and the game itself passed him by. A state championship coach suffered through back-to-back four-win seasons.
This winter, Williams, just like bulky sneakers, is making a comeback.
Eastside boys basketball is back in the FHSAA postseason for the first time since 2021 with a 15-8 record. The Rams are the No. 4 seed in Class 4A-Region 2, but it needs to begin the playoffs on the road vs. district champion Eustis.
Williams’ 2021 squad lost three games, all to Santa Fe – the eventual state runner-up. He spent the last two seasons rebuilding to this point. A freshmen squad in 2024 now holds a substantial amount of juniors.
Juniors, though, aren’t seniors, which is why Williams thought Eastside was a year away.
Early results this season changed that. The Rams traveled to western Alachua County in December and lost by just 15 to Newberry – who completed a perfect regular season last year.
“They understand the game more now, and the pressure of the game and the quickness of the game,” Williams said. Surprising to me that we at this point now? Very.”
Few games held as much significance as the January 24 win over Williston. The Red Devils might have taken a step back this season, but this is still a team with back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024.
The Rams honored the legendary 2005-06 state championship team, led by Tim Shankle and Donte Anderson. For this current iteration of Rams players, the presence of those legends inspired them.
“We weren’t letting them back with an L,” senior Coop Hayes said.
In that game, the Rams allowed just 48 points to Williston. Defense has been the hallmark of EHS. Williams said it allows the team to play in every game, and he’s right about them staying in every game. Eastside lost by 15 or less in seven of eight losses, and every loss came to a playoff team.
“Our team loves defense,” junior Jaivion Williams said. “That just being that Eastside. Load up. we got to live on defense. The points are going to come regardless.”
Furthermore the team holds wins over Alachua County foes like Santa Fe and Gainesville High. The Hurricanes won on January 9 in a dramatic 52-50 game winner right as their run began. EHS gained its revenge on the final day of the regular season.
Williams worked the team hard for that game. His style sometimes rubs players the wrong way and some have even cried, but veterans like Hayes welcome his philosophy.
“He’s going to get on you all the time, but that’s his job. He’s supposed to do that,” Hayes said. “I try to tell the guys, don’t let it get into your head. It’s Coach Pop, he loves you.”
A final test remains in the Rams redemption tour:
The chance to defeat North Marion – the squad that’s beaten EHS three times, including in the district championship game.
But first, Eastside needs to survive that road trip to Eustis. Road playoff games are tough for any teams, especially those with little experience.
Williams said the Rams need to rebound and just have a more diversified scoring effort.
“I don’t care if you’re getting foul and going to the free throw, you got to score something, and I think that’d have been different in the championship game vs. North Marion,” Williams said. “We need to fix that.”
Tip-off from Eustis is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Pop Williams, Eastside boys basketball look for upsets in postseason return
Reporting by Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
