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Bobcats pin hopes on Howard's talent
Joth Howard
By SAM DAVIS
The Chronicle Sports Editor
There's no question who oppo
nents in the Piedmont Triad 3-A
Conference are pointing their fin
gers toward as the loop's top player.
Last season Glenn's Josh
Howard established himself as one
of the premier players in the state.
The 6-6 forward averaged 24 points,
14 rebounds and six blocked shots
per game.
With that kind of productivity,
all the Bobcats need to do is come
up with a supporting cast to make a
run at the conference champi
onship.
That shouldn't be too difficult
for Glenn. It returns 12 of its top 14
players from last season The
Bobcats posted a 17-10 overall
record and finished second in the
North Piedmont Conference last
season.
The going could be a little
tougher in the new conference with
the addition of several strong pro
grams. However, the Bobcats
should have enough manpower to
be a factor in the race.
Howard is one of three starter
back in the fold for the Bobcats.
Ryan Blake, a senior guard, aver
aged 12 points per game last sea
son. Jercell Morgan, a 6-3 forward
supplied eight points per game.
In addition to those two, Glenn
has several others who played a sig
nificant role in last year's perfor
mance.
Angelo Evans, a 6-3 forward,
will be counted upon to help supply
inside support for Howard. Evans
saw considerable action for the
Bobcats as a freshman, mostly in a
reserve role. But he did have several
outstanding games.
Antonio Thomas, a 6-2 swing
man, should also be a factor in the
Bobcats season. Thomas was a
part-time starter last season.
Another unknown for the
Bobcats could be the play of
Rodney Waters, a 6-4 guard. Waters
has considerable talent, but didn't
play go out for the team last season.
Last season Howard kept his
team in many games with his abili
ty. He came through with several
big games in the State playoffs,
leading Glenn to within one game
of the sectional finals. If he contin
ues to provide the same type effort
this season the Bobcats could con
tend for the league title or go deep
into the playoffs.
Nmll Pollard, (34) and Shamry Konloy (12) holpod Roynaldt to tho thampionihip a4 tho Mary Oorbor
ClOstit.
Will Demons' girls early success last?
B> SAM DAVIS
The Chronicle Sports Editor
The 1997-98 high school basket
ball season is still in its infant
stages, but Reynolds' girls team
already has accomplished one of its
goals.
The Demons captured their
first-ever Mary Garber Holiday
Tipoff Classic by defeating archri
val Mount Tabor last Wednesday
night.
That early-season success
should be enough to help boost the
Demons to one of their better sea
sons in recent history.
The RJR girls programs has
struggled to get above .500 since
Jeff Faullin came to RJR five years
ago.Last season was the team's best
to that point when the Demons
posted a 12-13 record and advanced
to the second-round of the State 4
A playoffs.
At last week's tournament, the
Demons showed they have all the
ingredients to make a run at a con
ference championship. They have
great senior leadership, a solid
inside game and scoring off the
bench.
Senior Shamry Kenley is the
emotional leader. Kenley was
named to the all-tournament team
and has already signed a basketball
grant with UNC-Asheville.
"Shamry works hard and that's
why we put the ball in her hands,"
Faullin said. "We depend on her to
distribute the ball."
Kenley has a host of weapons at
her disposal. Terita Allen and
Ketisha Wiley are both explosive
backcourt players in the three
guard offense. Up front, Nell
Pollard and Rachel Stockdale are
solid inside players.
Kenley said her team has the
weapons to do well this season.
"I want to leave Reynolds with a
winning record and a chance to
play for the conference champi
onship," she said. "We have a lot of
experienced players coming back
and if we work hard we'll have a
chance."
Kim McMillian, a sophomore
forward, might be the best athlete
on the team. McMillian's scrappy
inside play was one of the keys in
the tournament championship.
McMillian supplies inside scoring
and tenacious defense.
The key for the Demons' success
could be how well its reserves play
down the stretch.
New coach hopes new attitude will help
Mustangs get back on winning track
Mile? Pennington
By SAM DAVIS
The Chronicle Sports Editor
There's a new attitude at
Parkland.
At least that's what Mike
Pennington would like to think
Pennington took over the
Mustangs' basketball program
this season and hopes to get the
program back on solid ground.
Since Tom Muse resigned as
the coach two years ago the pro
gram has had to endure a lot of
ups and downs. Charlie
Schoederbeck, who served as
Muse's assistant, took over the
program after Muse left the pro
gram. But Schoederbeck had
some off-the-court problems that
resulted in him resigning his posi
tion.
Pennington, a Ibng-time assis
tant to Coach Alfred Poe at
Carver, says he thinks the
Mustangs are now ready to move
forward.
^"Overall things are going pret
ty well," Pennington said. "We
did pretty well in scrimmages our
twjo scrimmages (against East
Surry and Burlington Williams),
the kids are working hard and
getting better.
"The most important thing is
that they believe in what they're
doing." Pennington added.
"When-they believe in what
they're doing you have a chance to
be successful."
The Mustangs, who opened
the season on Tuesday against
Mount Tabor, return a lineup of
veteran players. The team is ath
letic. but lacks height.
"Clifford Crawford heads the
list of returning players.
Crawford, a 6-2 forward, averaged
17 points per game and was
named to the all-conference team
as a sophomore.
Tramond Cobb, a 6-2 forward,
also started last season for the
Mustangs and will lend his expe
rience to the team.
"Tramond is only 6-2, but he's
a 6-8 high-jumper," Pennington
said. "He's very athletic."
Lamont Wilson, a 6-1, 250
pounder. will man the pivot posi
tion. Wilson will be pushed by 6-6
sophomore Brandon Bowman.
At guard, Reggie Hunt will
handle the point position. In
addition to his ball-handling abil
ity, Hunt is a deadly 3-point
shooter. He'll be joined by
Camden Banner or Tyrone Davis.
Davis, a 6-2 senior, has consider
able ability, but has never played
organized basketball.
Pennington said the Mustangs
will rely on defense early in the
season until their offense jells.
Ser PARKLAND on M
Coach mike Mute will look for
hit team't defencte to ttep up
until the Vikings' offense jeks.
Vikings girls in rebuilding mode
? Only one of top eight players back from
team that advanced to championship game
By SAM DAVIS
The Chronicle Sports Editor
North Forsyth advanced to the
champion hip game of the State 4
A classification, but the Vikings lost
all five starters and seven of their
top eight players from that team.
Coach Mike Muse will have to
bring along a young group o players
quickly if the Vikings expect to do
well in the tough Metro 4-A
Conference.
"We're going to take some
bumps and bruises early in the sea
son," Muse says, "The quicker we
grow up, the better off we'll be"
The Vikings got a chance to get
their feet wet quick. Like the other
Forsyth County women's teams,
they opened the season by compet
ing in the Mary Garber Classic dur
ing the week of Thanksgiving.
North finished with a 1-2 record.
The Vikings opened up with a nar
row victory over East before losing
to Mount Tabor in the semifinals
and Glenn in the consolation game.
"That was great for us," Muse
says. "We got to play against three
good basketball teams That's going
to give us a bunch of experience. I
thought that was really good for us
"The tougher the teams we play
early, that's just going to make us
better. There were some things that
we didn't do well on, but there are a
lot of positives."
While some coaches and media
have picked the Vikings to be
among the leaders in the confer
ence, Muse says his team will do
well to avoid a losing season.
"When you lose seven of eight of
your best players, it all but wipes
out your team." Muse says. "We
averaged around 57 points per
game last year and out of that we
have only about seven points com
ing back."
Those points were provided by
Renada Flynt and Davina
Simmons Those two are the only
returnees who logged considerable
minutes. Flynt averaged a five
points and Simmons supplied about
two points per game.
"This is the way programs go,"
Muse says "Especially when you
can't recruit. You take what you
have and you build on it
"You're going to go through
holes when you have a young team.
But you're also going to have years
like last year."
Of the 15 players on the Vikings'
roster, only three are seniors and
four are juniors. The rest of the ros
ter is comprised of two freshmen
and six sophomores.
"The good thing about this year
is that is that three years from now
eight of these players will still be
with me," Muse says. "My philoso
phy is to coach next year's team this
year."
One good thing for the Vikings,
is the fact that their playing sty le
doesn't predicate one player carry
ing them. Although Davina
Simmons has been the leading scor
er. thus far. Muse expects others to-v
step up as the season progresses^
"I've never had one player aver-**
age more than 20 points per game,""-.
M use says. "I've always been in-*
favor of having balanced scoring**
For us to be successful, we have to>
have a team Concept."
North will need to get leadership**
from its seniors to finish the season -
strong, according to Muse
"They have to step up and pro-*
vide senior leadership." Muse says.
"We're looking for Renada. Keesha
(Dover) and Monique (Hickman).
They've been there last year and
now its their turn to step up ."
Charles Dearmon (15) and Anthony Nelson form a solid 1-2 punch at guard.
Yellowjacketshope to continue winning tradition
By SAM DAVIS
The Chronicle Sports Kdilor
Replacing a legend is never
easy.
Coach Ricky Holt of Carver is
getting that experience on a first
hand basis.
Holt was named to replace
Alfred Poe, who guided the Carver
program for 25 years.
He realizes that it will take a
while to win some over to his way
of doing things, but it's all part of
the game.
"I feel like it's a good situa
tion." Holt says. "We're in a very
competitive league, the tradition is
here and Carver usually has its
share of athletes."
For the past seven years. Holt
has served as the head coach at
Kannapolis Brown, where he led
the Wonders to the state playoffs
each season. He says that back
ground should help him lead the
Yellowjackets' program.
"I feel very good about it." he
says. "It's a been a very good pro
gram and I would like to keep it
on the same level its been on in the
last few years."
One reason for Holt's optimism
is the number of veterans return
ing to the team The
Yellowjackets' backcourt duo of
Anthony Nelson and Charles
Dearmon returns intact. The duo
was considered one of the best in
the league last season.
"The two of them are excellent
high school players." Holt says.
"Anthony is in his fourth consecu
tive year starting He's the glue or
the mortar that keeps the bricks
together. He's our team leader.
He's someone whose name may
not jump out at you when you
read the box scores, but he does
the things that coaches dream of
having their players do. He gets
the ball into the right people's
hands."
Dearmon is nearly opposite in
style to Nelson.
"Charles is the creator." Holt
says. "He's the guy you go home ^
and say: 'man he's something else". ^
He's the leading returning scorer ??
See CARVER lAj
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