Page 15 - 2018 TL Basketball Preview

TRI-LAKES EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018
15TT
JESSIEVILLE LIONS
Lions look to be toughest on the floor, coach says
BY AMBER QUAID
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Head basketball coach Jared White, in his
second season with the Jessieville Lions, said he’s looking to keep this season as solid as last year’s, 24-7. With three re-
turning starters, the team seems to be headed in the right direction.
“We have three returning players who gained a lot of experience; then we have several young ones who have no high school game experience,” White said. “We have a chance to surprise some people if we jell and settle into our roles sooner than later.”
The starters include senior shooting guard Braxton Shifflett, who averaged 8.6 points and 3 rebounds per game last season and is “a solid
guard who brings excellent perimeter shooting. He can put it on the floor and finish well as an 80 percent free-throw shooter,” White said.
Senior forward Tyler Holloway, who aver- aged 8.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, is “an excellent offensive rebounder. He’s more of an inside-out threat. He can really shoot the 3 and is excellent in pick-and-roll situations,” White said. Senior guard/forward Chase Pedersen averaged 4.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3 assists per game and is the team’s top defender, the coach said.
White said a solid defense and quickness are strengths the team possesses, as well as having multiple guards who can score from the perimeter or off the dribble. The Lions will need all these attributes to face their big rival, Fountain Lake, as well as Perryville, their “newly created rival,” and Booneville,
JESSIEVILLE LIONS
NOV. 13 ............. JACKSONVILLE LIGHTHOUSE NOV. 15-17 ..... @HS LAKESIDE TOURNAMENT NOV. 19 ........................................ ENGLAND NOV. 20 .......................................... BAUXITE NOV. 26-DEC. 1 ........................... @HASKELL ..................... HARMONY GROVE TOURNAMENT NOV. 27 .................................. @BISMARCK* DEC. 4 .............................. FOUNTAIN LAKE* DEC. 7 ......................................... @LAMAR* DEC. 11 ............................... @PERRYVILLE* DEC. 14 ........................................... PARIS*
the “preseason favorite,” the coach said. “If we were to match last year’s success, I would take it, other than the quick exit from the state tournament,” White said. “We have a much tougher schedule this year and some new teams
DEC. 18 .............................. @BOONEVILLE* JAN. 8 .................................... TWO RIVERS* JAN. 11 ....................................... @ATKINS* JAN. 15 ........................... @FOUNTAIN LAKE* JAN. 18 .................................. BOONEVILLE* JAN. 22 ................................... PERRYVILLE* JAN. 24 .......................................... LAMAR* JAN. 29 ............................... @TWO RIVERS* FEB. 1 ........................................... @PARIS* FEB. 5 ............................................ ATKINS*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
in the conference that will make the league very competitive.
“We will have to hang our hat on being the toughest team to take the floor because we will be undersized compared to most teams.”
JESSIEVILLE LADY LIONS
Coach: Lady Lions to pressure the ball, push tempo
BY AMBER QUAID
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Having a solid team of veteran players,
the Lady Lions are ready to build upon last year’s foundation. They are an expe- rienced group led by four seniors with
great chemistry, head coach Magen Scrivner said. This is Scrivner’s second season with the Lady Lions, and her assistant coach, Anna Chambers, a
former Lady Lion, is in her third season.
“The effort this team gives day in and day out will help us have a great season,” the coach said.
PLAYER TO WATCH
MORRIS continued from 11TT
them from freaking out, then we will be OK. That’s where I can help. I have been there before, and I don’t mind having the ball late in games to take the pressure off.”
And not only is Morris confident in taking the big shots; she is also more than happy to do the talking, too, so the sophomores can be quiet like she was.
“I feel like if I didn’t [lead the team], no one would,” Morris said. “It would be everyone doing what they wanted. It’s my job to lead the team now. I am ready to do it.”
“They are quick, athletic, good at pressuring the ball and good at pushing the tempo.”
Last season’s record, 15-14, in the 3A-4, has left the door open for improvement, and several players are ready to step up their roles, the coach said, including the team’s four returning starters.
Senior guard Lexi Bassett had 4.2 points, 3 assists and 1 charge per game last year, and her “ability to read the floor and use her step back has developed over the preseason,” Scrivner said.
Senior guard Jaidyn Fortenberry, with 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game, “is a solid rebounder on both ends of the floor,”
STACI VANDAGRIFF/TRI-LAKES EDITION
The Tri-Lakes Edition Girls Basketball Player to Watch, Diamond Morris, prepares for a shot.
and junior forward Lillianna Fehrenbacher, with 7.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, is a “strong forward who can step out and hit the outside shot,” the coach said.
Junior guard Taryn Anderson, with 7 points, 2 steals and 1 assist per game, has “a quick first step and is explosive in getting to the rim,” Scrivner said.
Besides returning starters, the team also has solid inside and outside threats. In- side players include senior Cassidy Tuck- er, who is a “great post player who can step out and knock down the outside shot with
great court awareness,” the coach said. Sophomore Abby Storment is a “great pres- ence on the inside posting up and getting to the rim,” Scrivner said, and sophomore Madison Cummings has an “aggressive mentality to go
get offensive and defensive rebounds.”
From the outside, players include senior Amy De Haas, who has “developed the ability to go both right and left with ball penetration and has
a quick first step,” the coach said.
Sophomore Callie Pederson has “developed a
great shot from the perimeter and is consistent,” Scrivner said.