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Mustang basketball teams will start season at East Henderson |
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Smoky Mountain's basketball teams will open their seasons in the East Henderson Tipoff Classic Friday and Saturday.
SM will face the host Eagles Friday and battle West Henderson Saturday. The schedule calls for the Lady Mustangs to play at 3 p.m. both days with the Mustang men to follow. The JV teams will play at the same time in the auxiliary gym with the men going first followed by the women. The Lady Mustangs have high hopes for an outstanding season as four starters return from a 21-4 team that won the Western Athletic Conference championship. They will be tested immediately by facing the defending state 3-A champions in the first game. The Mustang men feel this could be the year they turn the corner. They were 7-16 a year ago and have had seven straight seasons with no more than eight wins. Returning senior starters for the Lady Mustangs are center Elexis Smith, forward Lindsey Lewis and guards Kaitlin Ritchie and Tara Green. Smith was conference co-player of the year last season while Ritchie and Green earned all-conference honors. Lewis was honorable mention. "It's always good to have experience coming back, but the first thing we need to do is understand it's a new season," Coach Cindi Simmons said. "You can't rely on what you've done in the past. If you do, you're destined to not meet your goals." Other senior returnees are Nathalie Broom, a spot starter late last year, along with Melissa Collins and Cassie Proffitt. Juniors Courtney Bryson and Christy Pruett are also back. Other juniors are Ashley Holmes, Ashley Harn and Alyson Bartell, all up from the JVs, and Jennifer Hooper, a transfer from Blue Ridge. Stasha Nicholson is the lone sophomore. "We have to continue to work hard on a lot of little things, remain focused defensively and continue to play as a team," Simmons said. She said Erwin and Enka could be the teams capable of providing the biggest challenge in SM's quest to repeat as conference champions. Simmons got to see her team in action for the first time last Thursday in a scrimmage at Hayesville. "We were just looking to see where we were at this point," Simmons said. "I felt we looked better as the scrimmage went along. Our man defense looked better as the night progressed. We played hard. There was a lot of intensity, and I was pleased with our overall performance." She said the offense needs more work on its timing and spacing. Another scrimmage was set for Monday at Reynolds. Coach Scott Hartbarger is excited about the season as his Mustang men prepare for their opener. "I feel real good about where we are right now," he said. "We're ahead of where we were last year. Our kids are excited. We've got a good team chemistry going." Probable starters are junior Justin Roper and senior Michael Ritchie at guards, senors Allen Sutton and Luke Bell at forwards and junior Jason Bennett at center. They are all back from last year. Hartbarger said senior returnees Darius Bryson and Kyle Clayton, junior Brent Robinson, who is up from the JVs, and exchange student Jonas Glaser should see significant playing time. Also fitting in that category is senior returnee Sam Neff, who is coming back from a knee injury. The coach said Neff should be at full speed after Christmas. Completing the roster are senior Cody Long and juniors Jake Day, Silas Webb, Lance Gabbard and Landon Farley. Long is a returnee while the others are up from the JVs. "Our defense is getting better everyday," Hartbarger said. "We're going to be able to press a lot more. Our offense is starting to come around. Our timing and spacing are better." He said the team still needs to work on rebounding. "I'm really impressed with our kids' intensity and enthusiasm," the coach said. "They stay focused everyday and work hard." He said defending WAC champion Erwin will have the most athletic team in the league while Franklin is always tough. "The rest of the league is well balanced," Hartbarger said. "I think we have as good a shot as anybody to finish in the top three." The Mustangs' final tuneup came in a scrimmage at home Saturday against Hayesville. "I was pleased with our defensive effort," Hartbarger said. "I thought our timing and spacing were better on offense. I was pleased with our effort. The first five played really hard." SM's home-opener is set for next Wednesday against Swain. That game could be postponed due to the Maroon Devils' participation in the state football playoffs.
The complete schedule, which includes only nine home games, is as follows:Nov. 24 - at East Henderson |
Back to Sports: 11/23/00. |