Morrilton Coach Keith Zackery says conditioning has played a large part in his team's success this season.
"The main thing is that we have defended really well, with the exception of one game," said Zackery, whose team is off to an 8-1 start. "Our defense has been sound. ... Lane penetration has been at a minimum, and we're making teams take tough shots. If a team takes 10 shots, I want at least nine of them to be contested.
"That's what I've asked our players to do, and they've done that so far."
Marcel Swinton, a 6-2 senior, leads the Devil Dogs with an average of 13.9 points per game. Senior Jacarius Stewart averages 12.5 points a game. Juniors Keshon White and Chave Zackery are averaging 10 points.
"You would think with six seniors on the roster that we would have a lot of experience, but the truth is that this year's seniors were role players last year," Keith Zackery said. "We're seasoned as far as having seniors, but we're not when you look at the amount of playing time they have had."
The Devil Dogs face Monticello (5-0) in the Arkansas Hoops Challenge at 10:30 a.m. today in North Little Rock.
"Monticello is long, athletic and they can score in bunches," Zackery said. "We'll have a tough time trying to contain their athleticism."
Monticello is coming off a 59-31 victory over Drew Central. Junior 5-8 point guard Tyree Nolen led the Billies with 16 points in that victory, while 6-5 senior center Randy Stanley scored 14.
EL DORADO
A tall order
There will be a lot of height on the floor when El Dorado and Arkansas Baptist face each other in today's Arkansas Hoops Challenge at North Little Rock.
Arkansas Baptist features 7-2 freshman Connor Vanover and his 7-0 brother Brandon Vanover. El Dorado will counter with 6-10 sophomore Daniel Gafford.
"They are fundamentally sound," El Dorado Coach Gary Simmons said of Arkansas Baptist's towering brothers. "You can tell they've put in a lot of work. ... If we can't pressure the ball, they'll give us fits. We'll want to play a very up-tempo game against them."
Playing at a quick pace has not been a problem for the Wildcats, who improved to 7-0 after Thursday's 79-69 victory over Mansfield, La.. El Dorado is averaging 74 points per game.
Czar Perry, a 6-1 sophomore, is scoring 23.5 points per game, including a career-high 35 points against Star City on Dec. 5. Gafford also has had his share of highlights, including 24 points, 23 rebounds and 6 blocks against Magnolia on Dec. 9.
"We're young, energetic and they have fun playing basketball," Simmons said. "As far as chemistry, right now we have it."
WHITE CO. CENTRAL
Learning to win
White County Central won a school-record 22 games last season, and the Bears are well on their way to topping that mark this season.
"The whole community is abuzz," Coach Ryan Koerdt said. "Since we don't have football at our school, it's all about basketball. It's a regular Hoosiers type of story."
The Bears (18-1) have three starters back from last year and have four players averaging 14 or more points a game. Garrett Horton, a 6-2 senior guard, is averaging 19 points per game.
"Garrett is a freak of an athlete," Koerdt said. "He's had seven dunks in one game this year."
Griffin Dunn, a 6-5 junior forward, Nyklas Glass, a 5-11 junior forward, and Trace Jones, a 5-11 senior guard, are all scoring 14 points a game. Dunnalso is averaging 11 rebounds a game.
"We've done a good job with our press," Koerdt said. "We go full court and play real tough man-to-man. And we've done a good job of rebounding."
Koerdt said the program's next step is learning how to win in the postseason. The Bears finished second in their conference to eventual state champion Cedar Ridge last season but failed to advance out of the regional tournament.
"The one thing we have done better this year is shooting, but we have to become more consistent," Koerdt said. "There have been some nights where we have scored 50 points in a half and there have been others where we've scored 14."
Last-second shots
Little Rock Parkview and Jonesboro are entered in the 57th annual Whataburger Tournament, which will be held Dec. 29-31 at W.G. Thomas Coliseum in Fort Worth. Parkview's first-round opponent is North Crowley, Texas, which was 8-4 prior to Friday. Jonesboro is scheduled to play Richland, Texas, which was an 8-6 record. ... Riverside's Gavin Stone set a school record Tuesday night, hitting nine three-pointers in the Rebels' 70-22 victory over Crowley's Ridge. Stone did all of his damage in the first half, scoring 29 points. He did not play in the final two quarters. ... Buffalo Island Central Coach Bill Taylor earned his 700th career victory Tuesday when the Mustangs defeated Marked Tree 59-45.
Sports on 12/20/2014