Page 30 - 2018 TR Basketball Preview

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 | THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
QUITMAN BULLDOGS
Bulldogs to replace size with speed, athleticism
BY DONNA LAMPKIN STEPHENS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Quitman Bulldogs won the 2A-4
East District championship last year, finished runner-up in the Class 2A West/Central Regional and advanced
to the Class 2A State Tournament.
Although they move to the 2A-5 North with
the Arkansas Activities Association’s reclassifica- tion cycle, the Bulldogs hope to return to the state tournament in 2019.
“We know that we are a good enough team to once again make state, but we also know how easily that can be taken for granted and lost,” said coach Brandon Burgener, who starts his third season atop the Bulldog program. “We lost a lot of size from last year’s team, but I feel we’ll make up for it with our speed and athleticism this year.”
The Bulldogs went through the conference 14-4 last season and finished 25-12 after their first-round state-tournament loss to Marked Tree, 53-42.
Returning starters include 6-1 senior forward Isaac Clemmons, 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season; and 5-10 junior point guard Zac Shue, 12.3 points and 4 assists.
“Isaac will have big shoes to fill since we lost our 6-6 center, but he is a great rebounder, and though he is only 6-1, he loves to do the dirty
QUITMAN BULLDOGS
one another and my philosophy, and it makes for fun basketball.
“No. 2 would be our athleticism. I have more athletes who could play on any given night than I have ever had. That depth is just what we need come postseason.”
The Bulldogs’ biggest weakness is a lack of size, the coach said.
“We don’t have anyone over 6-3, and we ar- en’t used to that, but we look to overcome that with speed,” Burgener said. “Transition offense and defense will be something we focus on a lot this season.”
The rival game with Rose Bud on Nov. 13 is one to watch, he said.
“Our rivalry with Rose Bud goes back way be- fore I got to Quitman, but I found out quick it is always exciting when the two schools meet in any athletic event,” Burgener said.
The Bulldogs are eager to get started, the coach said.
“We have experience, and we have guys who will be stepping in this year, but something we can expect to see every night is five kids on the floor giving their guts for the colors they’re wearing,” Burgener said. “This team comes to practice every day with a chip on their shoulder after an early exit in state last year. I hope to see that energy and passion from practice roll over into every game we play.”
NOV. 6 ................................ RURAL SPECIAL NOV. 9 ....................................HOWE, OKLA. NOV. 13 ................................... @ROSE BUD NOV. 16 ...........................@MOUNTAIN VIEW NOV. 20 .................................. @MARSHALL NOV. 26 ............................. (G) MONTICELLO NOV. 30 .............SOUTH SIDE BEE BRANCH* DEC. 4 ............. @WHITE COUNTY CENTRAL* DEC. 7 ...................... CONWAY ST. JOSEPH* DEC. 11 ...................................... DES ARC* DEC. 14 .............................. @NEMO VISTA*
work,” Burgener said. “He’s one of the toughest kids I’ve coached and is a defensive-minded guy like me.
“Zac has range unlike any other kid in our con- ference that I’ve seen. His 3-point percentage last season was 47 percent, so he is always a threat to score from outside. He can also put the ball on the floor and attack the rim, something he has really worked at in the offseason.”
Senior Brandon Blankenship, a transfer from Heber Springs, will also help inside, the coach said. “He is strong mentally and physically,” Burgener said. “He loves to rebound and be
physical with anyone.”
Several others will help Shue outside. Ethan
Brantley, a 6-0 transfer from Mount Vernon-Enola,
DEC. 18 ................................... PANGBURN* JAN. 8 ..................... @CONWAY CHRISTIAN* JAN. 11 .......... @SOUTH SIDE BEE BRANCH* JAN. 15 ...............WHITE COUNTY CENTRAL* JAN. 18 .................. @CONWAY ST. JOSEPH* JAN. 22 ................................... @DES ARC* JAN. 24 ................................. NEMO VISTA* JAN. 29 ................................ @PANGBURN* FEB. 1 ........................ CONWAY CHRISTIAN* FEB. 5 .....................MOUNT VERNON-ENOLA
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
has a “very quick first step, great awareness of space on the floor, and he can shoot the 3 well,” Burgener said. “We look for [Shue and Brantley] to be our main outside threats.”
The coach said 5-11 senior David Alvarez is very quick with the ball in his hands.
“I look for him to be a tough matchup for a lot of teams because he can shoot it and drive it,” Burgener said.
Chemistry is the Bulldogs’ No. 1 team strength, the coach said.
“My guys love being around each other and love playing for this school,” Burgener said. “Two years ago, we started a program from the ground up with a group of sophomores who are now seniors. These guys have bought into
QUITMAN LADY BULLDOGS
Lady Bulldogs look to continue hot streak at state
BY DONNA LAMPKIN STEPHENS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Quitman Lady Bulldogs came within 6 points of successfully defending their Class 2A state championship last year when they lost to Earle in the final, 48-43.
Timothy Hooten’s team capped a three-year run of 97-10 that included a 29-3 state semifinal finish in 2016; a 33-3 state-championship run in 2017; and 35-4 state runner-up finish in 2018.
“We have a mix of seniors to freshmen,” said Hooten, 146-25 heading into his sixth season at Quitman. “I would expect the program to continue to be as competitive
as it has been for the past three seasons.” The Lady Bulldogs won the West/Central Regional to earn a first-round bye in the Class 2A State Tournament. They then knocked off Carlisle in the quarterfinals, 65-56, and Johnson County Westside in the semifinals, 58-50, before
falling to Earle in the championship game. The Lady Bulldogs make the move to the 2A-5 North this season. Returning starters in- clude 5-8 senior guard Nicki Hooten, last year’s leading scorer, who is being recruited by Harding University; and 5-8 junior forward Lucy Holland,
the top rebounder and second-leading scorer. “Nicki is a great 3-point shooter who has improved her driving ability over the
offseason,” Hooten said.
But the Lady Bulldogs lost 5-5 senior guard Lily Holland to a career-ending knee injury. She was hurt in the regional last season and re- injured the knee during the preseason. Hooten called it “a huge loss to the team.”
Others expected to contribute inside in- clude 5-9 junior Carson Rackley and 5-11 junior Lanney Goff.
“Carson is a good rebounder who can step out and hit a 3-point shot,” Hooten said. “Lan- ney took a two-year absence from playing but is working hard to catch up. She could be a great addition by the end of the season.”
Besides Nicki Hooten, the Lady Bulldogs will look outside to 5-1 freshman Taylor Hooten, 5-4 junior Autumn Johnson, 5-9 junior Haley
Trawick, 5-3 junior Halle Bennett, 5-2 junior Gracie Smith and 5-8 junior Erin Stephens.
“Taylor is a 3-point shooter and a good passer,” the coach said. “Autumn is an im- proved 3-point shooter and driver. Haley is a good 3-point shooter who will also play the post position when needed. Halle greatly improved her shooting and ball-handling skills in the off- season. Gracie Smith is probably the team’s best passer and could see a lot of playing time. Erin has improved her ball-handling and driving.”
Hooten said this is the best overall shoot- ing team he’s coached at Quitman, but a team weakness is a lack of size.
“We will change to a more uptempo game,” he said.