HOT SPRINGS TROJANS

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

LITTLE ROCK — BOYS

Conference: 5A Southwest

Coach: Scotty Pennington (year at school:

third; record: 47-20 at Hot Springs High

School)

Assistant coaches: Adrain Ivory, Jason

Selig

Last year’s record: 16-11 (third in confer

ence, lost in first round of state tourna

ment to Morrilton)

Returning starters: “Senior Jacarri Tol

lette (6-6), a very athletic post who has

the ability to shoot the basketball from

outside as well, and senior Michael Young

(6-3), a very athletic forward who shoots

the ball very well and is the returning

Garland County Player of the Year,” Pen

nington said.

Best inside players: The coach named

Tollette, whose contributions last year

included an average 14.6 points and 7.2

rebounds per game, as well as Young, who

scored 17.5 points per games an also aver

aged 8.2 rebounds.

Best outside players: Junior Chris Hughes

(6-1), who plays at point guard.

How will you match/exceed/fall short of

your success from last year? “We will rely

on experienced post play, athletic guards

and team chemistry,” Pennington said.

Strengths of the team: “Those same three

elements -- team chemistry, post play and

our athletic guards,” Pennington said.

Weaknesses of the team: “We have a lack

of depth,” he said.

Games to watch: “The game against Texas

High. I will be coaching against my broth

er Chris that night, as he is the head coach

at Texas High. Also, all conference games

are ones to watch,” Pennington said.

Toughest opponent: Pennington said

Magnolia and Camden Fairview “both

are very athletic and do a great job on the

defensive end.”

College prospects: Jacarri Tollette and

Michael Young, who, in addition to their

athleticism, boast GPAs of 4.3 and 3.3, re

spectively, the coach said.

In a nutshell: “Barring injuries, we should

be very competitive in the 5A Southwest,”

Pennington said.

GIRLS

Conference: 5A Southwest

Coach: Mark Upshaw (year at school: third;

45-16 record, 132-87 career)

Assistant coach: Mike Wyatt

Last year’s record: 22-8

Returning starters: “We have senior guards

Ericka House (5-9), who scored an average

of 12 points per game last year, and Kiacia

Hicks (5-6), who contributed two points per

game. We also have junior forward Jessica

Riddley (5-7), who also averaged two points

per game,” Upshaw said.

Best inside players: “We’re very small in the

post, but Riddley, who started at 5-6 last year

but has grown to 5-7 this year, will be our

starting post player. She does a really good

job of defending for us and a pretty good job

rebounding, considering her size,” Upshaw

said. “With her is sophomore Shakela Shaw

(5-4), who hustles really well and has great

leaping ability. She’s a good, hard-nosed ball

player who plays bigger than she is. Also,

we have sophomore Nakiyah Carter, whois strong and plays physical when we need physical.” Best outside players: “Our No. 1 returning offensive player is House, who led the team in 3-point shooting last year, around 42 percent. Senior Kiacia Hicks (5-7) is one of the best defenders you’ll run into in the state.

She flat gets after it. She and senior Lavon Brown (5-5), a great defensive player as well, will be drawing all the toughest match-ups,” Upshaw said.

How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year?: It’s going to be a little different type of team than past years.

We lost a few crucial players, and early on we’re going to be searching for that player who steps up to really be that vocal leader of the team.

Strengths of the team: “We’re going to have to utilize our speed and quickness and really turn things into a face-paced, full-court game and go 90 miles per hour the whole time,” the coach said.

Weaknesses of the team: “Without the size, we’re going to have a hard time scoring onthe inside, that’s just all there is to it,” Upshaw said.

Games to watch: “Lakeside is our big rivalry, but it’s hard to know what to say here, because everyone in our conference is going to be a really good ball club,” Upshaw said.

Toughest opponent: “Little Rock Christian had a good year last year and most of their players are back. Pulaski Academy is in the same situation. Magnolia has probably the best player in our conference back from last year, and Lakeside is big - and I mean big,” Upshaw said. “Camden Fairview is maybe in a little bit of rebuilding, but they’re still going to be tough team just based on the way they play. Hope always plays us good, and Pulaski Robinson is a team you can’t really look past, either.” College prospects: “Ericka House, who is an outstanding scorer. She can slash and penetrate and finish - a really good ball player.” In a nutshell: “This will be an interesting year. The conference is wide open. Any of the teams could win. Each night will be a crucial game,” Upshaw maintained.

TROJANS SCHEDULE

Nov. 17 .................................Gurdon (Boys)

Nov. 17 ............................ White Hall (Girls)

Nov. 24 ................................. Lake Hamilton

Dec. 4 ........................... @ White Hall (Girls)

Dec. 8 .............................................Malvern

Jan. 8 ..........................................@ Lakeside

Jan. 12 .......................... @ Camden Fairview

Jan. 15 .......................................@ Robinson

Jan. 19 ..........................................Magnolia

Jan. 22 ............................Little Rock Christian

Jan. 26 ............................................@ Hope

Jan. 29 ............................... Pulaski Academy

Feb. 2 ...............................Camden Fairview

Feb. 5 ............................................ Lakeside

Feb. 9 .......................................@ Magnolia

Feb. 12 ..........................................Robinson

Feb. 16 ...............................................Hope

Feb. 19 ............. @ Little Rock Christian (Girls)

Feb. 23 .......................... @ Pulaski Academy

This article was published October 25, 2009 at 7:43 a.m.

Tri-Lakes, Pages 188 on 10/25/2009

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