Page 28 - 2018 TR Basketball Preview

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 | THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
NEWPORT GREYHOUNDS
Newport is full of talented youngsters
BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
Even though the Newport Greyhounds boys basketball team will be young and inexperienced this season, head coach Brandon Gates thinks the team’s overall
skill will make up for any deficiencies.
“I look forward to seeing what we can ac- complish this season,” Gates said. “I truly believe
basketball at Newport is on the rise.” Returning starters from last year’s 4-17 finish are senior Christian Rucker, junior Darnell Beard and senior guard Lucky Loftis. Rucker was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. Beard, who is credited with good ties and strength, was second in rebounds last year, and Loftis averaged 8.3 points per game last season. “This season, we will have better all-around players at different positions,” Gates said. “We have skilled players moving up from junior high
who will help.”
The coach said this year’s team is “young
and hungry.”
“We have good chemistry among the
guys and deeper talent off the bench,” he said. “We may have matchup problems defensively, but we will explore combination
STACI VANDAGRIFF/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Newport sophomore Rodney Johnson, left, is blocked by junior center Darnell Beard.
defenses in order to maximize our strengths.” Gates said some of the bigger games to watch this year will be the ones against Harding
Academy, Bald Knob and Riverview.
“Our whole league is well coached, and most
teams have strong talent,” he said.
Helping Newport Move Forward. . . . .
Grants for Manufacturing Job Creation ReNewport Grants for Retail Improvement Investments in Tourism Development Workforce Education Investments Facilitating Small Business Development
NOV. 6 ............. (G) WHITE COUNTY CENTRAL NOV. 8 .................................... (G) AUGUSTA NOV. 13 ..................................@MCCRORY* NOV. 26 ...........CROWLEY’S RIDGE ACADEMY NOV. 27 ................. @PALESTINE-WHEATLEY* NOV. 28 .............. @WHITE COUNTY CENTRAL
TOURNAMENT NOV. 30 .............................(G) BALD KNOB* DEC. 3 ................................... (G) MIDLAND DEC. 4 ............................... @TUCKERMAN* DEC. 6 .................................(G) @AUGUSTA DEC. 7 .................................HARRISBURG* DEC. 11 .................................... CAVE CITY* DEC. 13 .............. (G) JONESBORO WESTSIDE DEC. 14 .................................@RIVERVIEW* DEC. 17 ...................................... MCCRORY
DEC. 18 .................... @HARDING ACADEMY* DEC. 27 .................................... (B) @HOXIE JAN. 3 .......................... (G) CROSS COUNTY JAN. 4 ...............................(B) BALD KNOB* JAN. 8 ................................. CEDAR RIDGE* JAN. 11 ....................PALESTINE-WHEATLEY* JAN. 14 ............................. (G) @HILLCREST JAN. 18 .................................TUCKERMAN* JAN. 22 ............................. @HARRISBURG* JAN. 25 ................................. @CAVE CITY* JAN. 29 ................................... RIVERVIEW* JAN. 31 ........................................... TIMBO FEB. 1 ........................ HARDING ACADEMY* FEB. 5 ................................. @BALD KNOB* FEB. 8 .............................. @CEDAR RIDGE*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
NEWPORT GREYHOUNDS