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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 | TRI-LAKES EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
NOV. 12 .............................. MURFREESBORO NOV. 15 .................................. (B) ARKANSAS ..................................... CHRISTIAN ACADEMY NOV. 20 .................................... (B) OUACHITA NOV. 24-DEC. 1 ...................... MAGNET COVE ................................................ TOURNAMENT NOV. 27 ...........................(G) SALINE COUNTY .............................. CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL NOV. 30 ..................... MAUMELLE CHARTER* DEC. 4 ..................................... @CARLISLE* DEC. 7 ........................................ BIGELOW* DEC. 11 ................ CUTTER-MORNING STAR* DEC. 14 ....................................... @POYEN*
DEC. 21 ................................. (B) GLEN ROSE JAN. 4 ......................................... BISMARCK JAN. 8 ...................................... @ENGLAND* JAN. 11 .................. @MAUMELLE CHARTER* JAN. 15 ...................................... CARLISLE* JAN. 18 .................................... @BIGELOW* JAN. 21 ........................................... POYEN* JAN. 22 ............... @CUTTER-MORNING STAR* JAN. 29 ........................................ @HAZEN* FEB. 1 ........................................ ENGLAND* FEB. 5 ........................ (B) @MURFREESBORO
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
POYEN INDIANS
POYEN LADY INDIANS
Poyen has plenty of depth, experience
NOV. 15 ................................. (B) @OUACHITA NOV. 16 ....................................... BISMARCK NOV. 30 ....................................(B) @HAZEN* DEC. 4 ................................. (B) @BIGELOW* DEC. 7 ....................................... ENGLAND* DEC. 11 .................... MAUMELLE CHARTER* DEC. 14 .............................. MAGNET COVE* DEC. 17 .............. @CUTTER-MORNING STAR* DEC. 18 ....................... (G) MURFREESBORO JAN. 8 ........................................ CARLISLE*
JAN. 11 ..................................... (B) HAZEN* JAN. 14 ................................... @MOUNT IDA JAN. 15 .................................. (B) BIGELOW* JAN. 18 .................................... @ENGLAND* JAN. 21 ............................ @MAGNET COVE* JAN. 22 .................. @MAUMELLE CHARTER* JAN. 29 ................. CUTTER-MORNING STAR* FEB. 1 ...................................... @CARLISLE*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
Poyen head coach Mickey Shaffer said he is very excited about the group of girls he has this season.
“I have 12 girls fighting for play- ing time, so hopefully, depth will be a key,” Shaffer said. “We have seven girls returning who have starting experience, and there are also five other juniors and sophomores com- peting for time.”
The Poyen girls basketball team finished 26-5 last year, and key returners this year include Bree McDermott, who averaged 9 points per game last year, along with almost 3 steals and 3 rebounds; junior Kyla Puckett, who aver- aged 6.9 points and just over 5 rebounds per game; and Kindi Puckett, who chipped in with 6.1 points per game. The coach said he has three other girls who started several times during the year as well.
Shaffer said Kyla Puckett and junior Madyson
PLAYER TO WATCH
ROBINSON continued from 10TT
the University of Southern Mississippi in Hatties- burg, Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklaho- ma, and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
“Robinson just has that ‘it’ factor at point guard,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette recruiting writer Richard Davenport said. “He plays great defense and can score if he needs to, but he doesn’t have to. He knows when to score and when to distribute the ball. If he continues to de- velop during his junior season and in the summer, he could be a major Division I recruit.”
A year ago, Robinson was trying to win over his teammates. Now he is the affirmed leader of the team with a young and talented nucleus of players who are comfortable with him driving them to the next level.
“He is the rock of the team,” Abrahamson said. “Everybody just instinctively looks at him late in games. He closed out several games last year. I think that will only increase this year, and he is up for that challenge.”
Yarbrough shared the post responsibilities last year.
“Kyla is faster and more athletic, and Madyson is very fundamental and strong,” he said.
McDermott, Kindi Puckett and Faith Diehl will all be fighting for playtime at the outside, the coach said.
“We will be very comparable to last year,” Shaffer said. “We will have more depth, and our post game has improved considerably.
“If the new and younger players really come on, we might have a chance to be better.”
Shaffer said his team’s biggest strength is experience.
“Our guard play and shooting should be good, and the post players have improved a lot,” Shaffer said. “The team speed isn’t as good as it has been the past few years. Some of the younger players have some quickness and will have to come through.”
Poyen competes in the 2A-5 South, and the coach said there should be a race for the conference lead with Bigelow, England and Carlisle.
STACI VANDAGRIFF/TRI-LAKES EDITION
The Tri-Lakes Edition Boys Basketball Player to Watch, Khalen Robinson, has made a smooth tran- sition into the 7A Conference after moving from Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock.
MAGNET COVE PANTHERS
NOV. 6 ................................... (B) GLEN ROSE DEC. 17 ......................................... HAZEN* NOV. 8 ....................... LISA ACADEMY NORTH DEC. 19-21 .... @WEST HELENA TOURNAMENT
GO PANTHERS!
2018 Magnet Cove
Basketball Team
Athletic Director: Caleb Carmikle Coaches: Jeremy Hall and Matt Williamson
