Huntsville Duo Leads Turnaround

Scott, Frick Improve Abilities, Get Eagles Into State Playoffs

Ricky Scott, right, of Huntsville is bigger and stronger than last season, but has improved vastly because his teammate, Cole Frick, has looked for more ways to get the 6-foot-6 center involved in the Eagles’ offense.

Ricky Scott, right, of Huntsville is bigger and stronger than last season, but has improved vastly because his teammate, Cole Frick, has looked for more ways to get the 6-foot-6 center involved in the Eagles’ offense.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

— Huntsville boys basketball coach Jim Stafford has dubbed Ricky Scott “The Eraser” because the center has a knack for blocking shots.

Meanwhile, Huntsville point guard Cole Frick referred to himself as a bit of a “ball hog” before he made a conscious effort to get his teammates more involved in the offense.

Regardless of what they’re called, Scott and Frick have combined this season to give the Eagles a consistent scoring duo and help turn around a program that won only five games last season.

That rejuvenation will continue at 8:30 p.m. today when Huntsville (17-8) faces Jacksonville in the opening round of the Class 5A State Tournament at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.

Class 5A State Tournament

at Pine Bluff

BOYS

Tuesday’s games

Game 1: Beebe (1-East) vs. Watson Chapel (4-South), 2:30 p.m.

Game 2: Hot Springdale Lakeside (1-South) vs. Greene County Tech (4-East), 5:30 p.m.

Game 3: Jacksonville (1-Central) vs. Huntsville (4-West), 8 p.m.

Wednesday’s games

Game 4: Clarksville (1-West) vs. Mills University (4-Central), 2:30 p.m.

Game 5: Harrison (2-West) vs. Pulaski Academy (3-Central), 5:30 p.m.

Game 6: LR McClellan (2-Central) vs. Alma (4-West), 8:30 p.m.

Thursday’s games

Game 7: Camden Fairview (2-South) vs. Wynne (3-East), 2:30 p.m.

Game 8: Forrest City (2-East) vs. Magnolia (3-South), 5:30 p.m.

Game 9: Winner of G1 vs. Winner 5, 8:30 p.m.

Friday’s games

Game 10: Winner G2 vs. Winner G6, 2:30 p.m.

Game 11: Winner G3 vs. Winner G7, 5:30 p.m.

Game 12: Winner G4 vs. Winner G8, 8:30p.m.

Saturday’s games

Game 13: Winner G9 vs. Winner G10, 1:30 p.m.

Game 14: Winner 11 vs. Winner G12., 7:30 p.m.

“Ricky has really improved this year. He’s a steady scorer for us, and both of them have really stepped their game up,” Stafford said. “And both of them have played real well in the games that we’ve won.”

Scott and Frick are seniors, and each has garnered attention from college basketball coaches. But their playing styles differ.

Frick is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound point guard who has the ability to penetrate to the basket and draw defenders away from Scott. That has set up the 6-6, 195-pound center for open shots in the paint.

“Last year I could handle it all right, but this year I’ve just gotten to where I can beat any pressure,” Frick said. “I just got a lot better.”

After watching film this past summer, Frick said he realized he needed to share the ball more and give Huntsville more scoring options. He was already an all-conference guard, but he improved his ball-handling in the offseason and worked on being more selective with his shot.

“He’s done a real good job distributing the ball this year,” Stafford said of Frick. “Of course, last year we had more trouble scoring and he had to score more. But this year he’s done a real good job of penetrating and pitching and also penetrating and drawing Ricky’s man and giving it to Ricky right under the basket.”

A year ago, Scott said it was frustrating as bigger post players pushed him around and kept him from the basket. With some encouragement from Stafford, Scott said he spent the offseason lifting weight four days a week in an attempt to get stronger.

“Last season I just couldn’t get rebounds,” Scott said. “I wasn’t strong enough, wasn’t physical enough.”

Scott said he gained 10 pounds in the offseason, which has helped him establish positioning in the paint and grab rebounds. He has emerged as a low-post presence, averaging 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks per game as a senior.

“I can push people around a lot easier,” Scott said, cracking a grin.