West boys basketball coach Tim Tencleve acknowledged his team might be overmatched on paper for tonight's Arkansas High School Coaches' Association All-Star game at the University of Central Arkansas, but he likes the way his group has worked together in practice week.
The East will definitely enjoy an overall size advantage led by 6-foot-8 Kavion Pippen of Hamburg and 6-11 Sam Dunkum of North Little Rock. But Tencleve hopes to take advantage of the plethora of guards on his roster.
At A Glance
Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Boys Basketball Rosters
East
Name^School
Dalton Armstrong^Bradford
Clark Brewington^Pocahontas
Devin Campbell^Jacksonville
Marquez Chew^Rivercrest
LaQuan Davie^Marion
Sam Dunkum^North Little Rock
Javonte Ellis^Conway
Keith Hayes^Little Rock McClellan
Richard Knox^Clarendon
Mahlon Martin^Episcopal Collegiate
Eddie Page^Marmaduke
Jarma Perkins^Jonesboro
Kavion Pippen^Hamburg
Cameron Ricks^Little Rock Mills
Head Coach: Wayne Sherrer, Monticello
Assistant coaches: Mitch Husky, Mountain Home; Micah Marsh, Episcopal Collegiate; Johnny Rice, North Little Rock.
West
Name^School
Matthew Ward^Charleston
Jaquez Smith^Hope
Seth Siebenmorgan^Scranton
Dylan Schrokenhofer, Conway St. Joseph
Josh Rogers^Flippen
Garrett Brown^Vilonia
Tereke Eckwood^Springdale Har-Ber
Eric Dailey^Little Rock Hall
Tyrik Harris^England
Silas Huskey^Harrison
Skyler Jackson^Acorn
Caleb Kirk^Huntsville
Cash Krueger^Subiaco Academy
Chris Owens^Springdale High
Head Coach: Tim Tencleve, Subiaco Academy.
Assistants: Clarence Finley, Pine Bluff; B.J. Ross, Charleston; Rodney Echols, Hot Springs.
The West's biggest player listed it 6-7 Garrett Brown of Vilonia. Huntsville's Caleb Kirk, at 6-5, will also try to work inside the paint.
"We're not very big that's for sure," said Tencleve, who has spent 30 years at Subiaco Academy. "You ask 'how many play guard?' and everybody's hand goes up. We will definitely need to share the basketball."
Chris Owens of Springdale High and Tereke Eckwood of Springdale Har-Ber are two of the West guards that have stood out this week, Tencleve said. The former teammates at Springdale faced off against each other in the tough 7A-West Conference after Eckwood transferred crosstown to Har-Ber, but could see time together in the same backcourt in the second half of tonight's game.
The first half consists of three seven-minute quarters to allow everyone to play one quarter each. The second half is free substitution.
"Oh yeah, they can both play," said Tencleve, who is making his fourth all-star coaching appearance but first as a head coach. "We probably won't put them together in the first half because we will try to even the teams up. But we will probably play them together in the second half as much as we can."
East coach Wayne Sherrer said he's got a versatile and talented group even though standout KeVaughn Allen of North Little Rock opted not to participate.
"We've got some size with the Pippen kid and Dunkum, but we've got some slashers and some shooters, too," said Sherrer, who guided Monticello to the Class 4A state title this season. "Our size could definitely be an advantage though. Those big guys can take up space and be rim protectors.
"But I think the West will shoot it well. They will try to space the floor on us."
Sports on 06/25/2015