Page 5 - RVO Basketball Preview 2015

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
| SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015
5VV
CONWAY WAMPUS CATS
CONWAY BOYS continued from 4VV Kendarious Smith, Junior Williams, Jaylen
Fulton, Travis Obannon and Clay Bradshaw. “This group of guards/small forwards can cre- ate for themselves and others as well as shoot it,” Johnson said. “Junior, Kendarious, Clay and Jaylen can really shoot the ball, while Prentice, Travis and Jamaal attack the rim and are more mid-range players.”
How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year? Johnson said he hoped the Wampus Cats would be able to build on last year’s learning experiences, both in practice and games. “Last year’s group of se- niors really challenged this young group every day in practice, and I believe that has prepared
them,” he said.
Team strengths: Johnson said the Cats’ big-
gest strength is that several players are capable of making perimeter shots. “We are deeper with the number of players who will get var- sity minutes this year,” he said. “Our bigs are versatile and can play out on the floor. And I really like the way this group rebounds the ball on both ends.”
Team weaknesses: The Wampus Cats po- tentially will play three sophomores every night and have several juniors with very limited var- sity minutes. “With all that inexperience, we will have some growing pains early with a very tough nonconference schedule,” Johnson said.
Games to watch: Fayetteville will visit Buzz Bolding Arena on Nov. 17; Bentonville will
be in Conway two nights later. The Cats will play host to Little Rock Parkview, Fayetteville, Springdale Har-Ber, Rogers Heritage, Van Bu- ren, North Little Rock, Cabot and Little Rock Catholic, who will visit for the Bank of the Ozarks/John Stanton Classic on Dec. 18-19. Johnson said another game to watch would be the Cats’ conference opener at home against Van Buren.
Toughest opponents: “We have several,” Johnson said. “But I would say our toughest
games are going to be against Van Buren, Bry- ant and Little Rock Catholic, which are our conference opponents.”
College prospects: Smith and Clifton are getting looks now, Johnson said. “We have oth- ers that I would consider prospects and will play college ball,” he said.
In a nutshell: “This year’s team will be chal- lenged early, and we hope our schedule will help prepare us for conference play,” Johnson said.
Conway’s Jaylen Fulton, from left, Prentice Mullins and Nathan Maull battle for rebound position.
VINCENT BURTON/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER