Page 8 - 2018 TL Basketball Preview

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 | TRI-LAKES EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
BAUXITE MINERS
Miners finding their pace with new head coach
BY AMBER QUAID
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Brandon Kelly faces his first season with the Miners as head coach, replacing for- mer head coach Andy Brakebill. Kelly said he brings with him an understand-
ing of trying new things that fit this young team’s coachability and different brands of personality. “I believe our strengths will be our deci-
sion-making on the floor and the overall basket- ball IQ these guys have,” Kelly said. “Although not perfect, these guys seem to see the whole picture and are able to adapt quickly to the tempo of the game.”
Though Kelly said he thinks it will take a few games for the Miners to find their pace, once they do, they will battle it out every night.
Returning starter Max Chenault, a junior point guard, brings his “above average shooting, ability to make quick decisions and athleticism around the perimeter,” the coach said.
Gary Storment, whose “ability to get in the lane and get by defenders [makes him] the tough- est guy on the floor,” and Logan Roberts, who’s a “shooting threat,” will also help in the team’s deci- sion-making success from the outside, Kelly said.
Helping on the inside is Brayden Tackett, who’s
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN MANNING/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Bauxite’s Keyshaun Scott makes a pass during practice.
“big and physical and can finish well around the basket,” and Christian Chambers, who’s a “good rim protector and long,” Kelly said. They are a complement to the strength from the outside — strength they will need in the Lendel Thomas Holiday Tournament in Harrison, the toughest opponents the coach thinks his team will face this season, he said.
“Bigger schools with storied traditions of win- ning, combined with good coaching, will make for a tough atmosphere to play in for three days,” Kelly said. “Although [the Miners are] very young,
Bauxite Miner Logan Roberts drives into the lane during practice.
you can expect to see us well-prepared for any opponent we have on the schedule.
“These guys are the classiest group of guys I’ve coached and will represent the Bauxite commu- nity and the district itself very well.”
BAUXITE MINERS
NOV. 6 ....................... LISA ACADEMY NORTH NOV. 8 ........ ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY NOV. 12-15 ................ BAUXITE TOURNAMENT NOV. 20 .................................. @JESSIEVILLE DEC. 4 ............ @HASKELL HARMONY GROVE DEC. 7 .............. JACKSONVILLE LIGHTHOUSE DEC. 11 ............................ @ARKADELPHIA* DEC. 14 ................................. @NASHVILLE* DEC. 18 ........................................... HOPE* DEC. 21 .................................... @SHERIDAN DEC. 22 ............................... (B) @SHERIDAN DEC. 27-29 .......... @HARRISON TOURNAMENT JAN. 4 ...................................... @MALVERN* JAN. 8 ........................................... @MENA* JAN. 15 .................................. @DE QUEEN* JAN. 18 ................................ ARKADELPHIA* JAN. 22 .................................... NASHVILLE* JAN. 25 .......................................... @HOPE* JAN. 29 ....................................... MALVERN* FEB. 1 .............................................. MENA* FEB. 5 ........................................ @BIGELOW FEB. 8 ....................................... DE QUEEN*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
BAUXITE LADY MINERS
Veteran Lady Miners provide solid footing for state bid
BY AMBER QUAID
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Taking on a dual role as athletic direc-
tor and Bauxite girls basketball coach, Joshua Harrison has big shoes to fill this season, but he said he is up for
the challenge.
“Three months ago, I didn’t plan to be in
this position and coaching again,” Harrison said. “I am blessed to have the opportunity to coach this team. This is an amazing group of young women.”
With returning starters, including senior forward Destiny McClain, junior guard Lynsey Mangum and junior center Lauren Bainter, and a 20-10 record from last season, Harrison said he is confident in his goals for the season: “Win
conference, make it out of regionals, and get a bid to 4A state.”
McClain is a tough matchup on the outside as a result of “her strength, athleticism and com- petitiveness,” Harrison said. She can score off the dribble and shoot clean from the outside.
Bainter is a “big, strong, solid post who has a great touch and good feet,” making her a force inside, the coach said. Though the Lady Miners lost in the first round of the regionals last year, after winning the conference, Harrison said, they are determined to make it through to the region- als this year.
“[The 4A-7 Conference] is no joke every year, and our region, with the likes of 4A monsters Star City, Monticello and a few new 5A faces, will be a worthy test,” Harrison said of this season’s matchups. “We play Sheridan twice and a really
good Bigelow team late in the season.”
Having an overall veteran team also helps the Lady Miners’ goal of reaching state and conquer-
ing such competitors, the coach said. Sophomore guards Olivia McDade, Faith Robinson and Kate Duncan bring “tenacity and a competitive spirit to the floor,” especially on the
defensive end, the coach said.
Another team advantage is the team’s juniors,
who have played together on the varsity level for a couple of years, Harrison said.
Junior Bree Hardin is “amazing at running the floor and has the potential to bust out and be a standout this year,” he said, and junior Cynia Johnson and junior point guard Erika Qualls return to the team after a year off and “bring athleticism, length and a difficult matchup to the lineup.”
JUSTIN MANNING/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Bauxite senior forward Destiny McClain shoots a 3-point shot during practice.