Sometimes a nickname can work against you.

Called "Quick" by virtually everyone, Central High School senior Johnny Gray seemingly lives to blow by defenders.

After a junior season in which the Bulldogs guard made a living driving to the basket, he knows defenses will adjust in the form of sagging man-to-man and zone defenses.

Basically, most will dare him to prove he has an outside shot.

"Good, I hope so," Gray said. "I've been working on my shot. I know what's coming and I'm ready to prove it."

The 5-foot-9 Gray helped resurrect Central's boys' basketball program, leading the Bulldogs to a 21-7 record.

The Bulldogs' run was on everyone's lips and fans flocked back to The Pit, Central's legendary gym.

Gray had a lot to do with it. He averaged 16.2 points and 6.0 free-throw attempts per game, demonstrating how often he tested the lane.

That's where this summer comes in. Playing summer basketball with Branson's Mike Wiebe and Tate Unruh, Gray said he tried to develop his jump shot, a weapon that was inconsistent last year.

He realized late last season that he had to improve.

"That's what Glendale did (in last year's district tournament), make me prove I can shoot it," Gray said. "I know I can -- I just need to do it in a game."

Or a lot of games. Coach Eddie Thomas said Gray, who has been nursing a knee injury suffered in a pick-up game, has been putting in the work.

"He's been shooting. He can do it in practice all day long," Thomas said.

"He's going to have to trust his teammates, too."

Central, with Gray and fellow seniors Jerome Small and Thomas Chadwick returning to the starting lineup, earned invitations to the Tournament of Champions and the Blue and Gold Tournament.

Nice, but Gray has goals beyond those two midseason tournaments.

"Man, I want to go to state. That's what I want for us more than anything," he said. "I think we can do it if everything works out."