Matt Hamilton/Daily Citizen-NewsChristian Heritage School's Zach Gentry converts a layup during Saturday's game against Bowdon.

DALTON, Ga. — Christian Heritage School boys basketball team members Christian Koneman and Evan Lester go to Zaxby’s before every game and order the same meal each time.

Koneman, along with teammate Zach Gentry, drink a Spark energy drink before they play every night. Lester prefers a mango Monster energy drink and an iced tea.

Freshman Nash Bingham always wears one leg sleeve and Koneman and Gentry always tape their left wrists — not for any competitive advantage, just as routine.

“We call it wrist-tape wonders,” Gentry said. “There’s no point. It’s just maybe a good luck charm.”

All of these quirky habits started this season. Coincidently or not, Christian Heritage is also 16-0 after beating Bowdon 79-56 at home on Saturday.

“We always tape our wrist, we always drink Spark,” Gentry said. “It’s just things we do, just like a habit. It’s worked the first however many games and just keeps working.

For coach Tyler Watkins, it’s the hair and the clothes. He wears the same white button down shirt, khaki pants and yellow-and-red-striped tie. Everything is exact, down to the socks.

“I have not cut my hair in about six months,” Watkins said. “Can you tell? I got a mullet going on.”

Superstition is often seen in sports. Whether it gives a player an advantage or not is all in his or her head. Regardless, if a team happens to fall, which the Lions have yet to do, it gives an easy copout.

“We do it because it keeps working,” Koneman said. “We do it so if we do lose, we didn’t lose because Evan didn’t get his energy drink. We’ll blame it on that if we play bad. We just gotta make sure everything is the same.”

There’s been no excuses needed for the Lions, who have averaged 21 more points per game than their opponents en route to a untarnished record.

The latest dominant performance, against Bowdon (7-10, 0-5 Region 6-A), was much like the others. Christian Heritage jumped out to an ealry lead 19-11 lead after the first quarter, stretching it to 39-20 just before the half.

Koneman carried the offense with 24 points. Lester led in rebounds with 10.

At it’s core, their success comes down to routine.

“We just go back to what our theme is, which is win the day,” Watkins said after Saturday’s win. “They took care of business today and then we’ll have practice on monday and we’re gonna try and win that practice. Just taking it game by game and day by day. That’s really where our focus is.

“We’re big on routine. Some of the stuff sounds a little cheesey, but do the same things. Prepare for that shoot around, prepare for that first warmup. Take it step by step.”

The Lions have the chance to do something that has never been done in school history: go undefeated.

Their biggest test will come on Saturday when they prepare for Round 2 against North Cobb Christian School, a team it took four overtimes to beat in their previous matchup.

Staying perfect is a challenge. It’s not talked about much throughout the team and very rarely by the coaches.

But it is on their minds every game. It’s an oppurtunity not many teams get halfway through the season, but the Lions are trying to remain focused and let their routine continue to drive them, taking a lesson from Alabama coach Nick Saban.

“This is the best start in CHS history,” Koneman said. “Coach brought us a video about Alabama football. The media was telling them they were the best team. Then they lose a game and afterward, Nick Saban said, ‘Y’all are feeding them rat poison.’ Once you start thinking that, you start lowering your play and don’t play as hard.

“You can read the hype, but don’t dwell on it. Move on to the next day, next game.”