Page 4 - TR Basketball Preview Oct 2016

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 | THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
JACKSONVILLE TITANS
Jacksonville coach Victor Joyner talks with his team while Tyree Appleby listens intently.
College prep, ‘on-the-job training’ are key for Titans
MARK BUFFALO/THREE RIVERS EDITION
BY MARK BUFFALO
STAFF WRITER
The Jacksonville Titans are hoping to get back into state-title contention this year, longtime coach Victor Joyner said.
The former Red Devils last earned a state title in 2013 when they won the Class 5A title at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock.
A year ago, Jacksonville finished 18-9, losing to eventual state finalist Maumelle 81-73 in the first round of the Class 5A State Tournament.
“Last year, we had hardly any true height in- side,” Joyner said. “We had one guy, but he was very inexperienced. This year, we don’t have an exorbitant amount of height, but we have a little more height. We have some guys that have to score and be able to play post defense. Last year, we couldn’t defend the rim, and we couldn’t close out possessions because we were just too small, and teams out-rebounded us, or they attacked the front of the rim, and we couldn’t turn them back. That hurt us in specific games, especially against Maumelle.”
Joyner said his team last year had a good year, winning 18 games.
“By no stretch of the imagination is that a bad thing,” he said. “Expectations have always been so high, so winning 18 games and going out in the first round of the state tournament is not what
JACKSONVILLE TITANS
NOV. 8 ................................. (B) @PINE BLUFF NOV. 11 ............ @MILLS UNIVERSITY STUDIES NOV. 18 ...............MILLS UNIVERSITY STUDIES NOV. 22 ....................................... PINE BLUFF NOV. 29 ...............................@LR MCCLELLAN DEC. 2 ...........................................@VILONIA DEC. 6 ................................@LR MCCLELLAN DEC. 8-10 ........... (G) @CONWAY TOURNAMENT DEC. 16 .......................................... @CABOT DEC. 19 ............................... (B) LR CENTRAL DEC. 20 ........................................(B) CABOT JAN. 3 .............................................LR FAIR* JAN. 6 .....................................@MAUMELLE* JAN. 10 .................................. LR PARKVIEW* JAN. 13 ....................................... @LR HALL* JAN. 17 ................@LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN* JAN. 20 .......................... PULASKI ACADEMY* JAN. 24 ..................................SYLVAN HILLS* JAN. 27 ........................................ @LR FAIR* JAN. 31 ...............................@SYLVAN HILLS* FEB. 3 ........................................MAUMELLE* FEB. 7 ..................................@LR PARKVIEW* FEB. 10 ..........................................LR HALL* FEB. 14 .................. LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN* FEB. 17 ....................... @PULASKI ACADEMY* FEB. 21 ..........................(G) @SYLVAN HILLS*
JACKSONVILLE continued on 6SS
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES