BOYS
Conference: 7A/6A Central
Coach: Codey Mann, second year
Assistant coach: Mitchell Wilson
2011-12 record: 23-7 overall, 12-2 conference, conference champion, reached semifinals of the Class 6A state tournament
Returning starter: Dakota Young (6-foot-3 senior guard/forward, 5.3 points per game, 4 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game).
Best inside players: Young; Andy Campbell, 6-4 sophomore guard/forward; Dakota Laseter, 6-3 senior post; Tyler Allen, 6-4 sophomore guard/forward; and Drew Smith, 6-3 junior forward.
Best outside players: Young; Campbell; Tony Jones, 5-10 sophomore guard; Cody Underhill, 5-10 junior guard; Anthony Delgado, 5-11 junior guard; Jalen Curtis, 5-11 junior guard; Co-Chese Temple Laws, 5-10 sophomore guard; Landon Kordsmeier, 6-1 senior forward; and Kentrell Scott, 5-9 sophomore guard.
How will you match/exceed/fall short of your finish last year? After last season’s success, which saw them count on three returning senior starters and ultimately fall to Little Rock Parkview, the eventual state champion, in the Class 6A state semifinals, the Cyclones are rebuilding this year. Mann said that with such an inexperienced team, his expectations would be for his squad to improve every game. “We hope by conference [play], we will have enough experience to compete on a nightly basis,” he said.
Team strengths: The Cyclones will rely on quickness, shooting and depth as they attempt to continue the success they experienced in Mann’s first season.
Team weaknesses: Russellville will be inexperienced, at least to start the season. Mann said his team’s size would also be a potential weakness.
Games to watch: The 7A/6A Central is traditionally one of the toughest leagues in Arkansas high school basketball, and Mann said every conference game would be one to watch.
Toughest opponent: The coach listed every league opponent: Conway, Fort Smith Northside, Fort Smith Southside, Greenwood, Little Rock Catholic, Little Rock Hall and Little Rock Parkview.
College prospects: Mann said the Cyclones have at least three: Young, “because of his basketball savvy and his ability to play inside and out”; Jones, for “his speed, athleticism, toughness and overall basketball ability”; and Campbell, because of his “work ethic, ability to play inside and outside, high basketball IQ and size.”
In a nutshell: “We will be extremely young this year,” Mann said. “We hope they can grow up fast and gain valuable experience during the nonconference portion of our season. Our conference will be the toughest in the state, so every night, we will have to be prepared and ready to play.”
RUSSELLVILLE GIRLS
Conference: 7A/6A Central
Coach: Steve Wiedower, fourth year, 54-33 at Russellville; 283-144 overall
Assistant coach: Christina Wilbers
2011-12 record: 22-9 overall, 10-4 in conference, Class 6A state runner-up to Little Rock Parkview
Returning starters: None.
Best inside players: Meredith Scott, 6-foot-0 senior; Rosalyn Peevy, 5-10 senior; Xiomara Sanchez, 5-11 senior; and Jocelyn Brown, 5-9 sophomore.
Best outside players: Alyssa Owens, 5-6 freshman; Kenzie Wiedower, 5-8 junior; Shelby Gray, 5-2 junior; and Nicole Phillips, 5-5 sophomore.
How will you match/exceed/fall short of your finish last year? After graduating six seniors off a team that came close to the first state title since 1978 and has the best finish for a Russellville girls team since 1998, the Lady Cyclones are rebuilding in 2012-13. “We are looking to improve throughout the season and be ready for the (Class) 6A state tournament,” Wiedower said.
Team strengths: Despite the lack of experience, Wiedower said he likes the work ethic of his fourth Russellville squad, calling the Lady Cyclones “a group of girls that work extremely hard and should get better throughout the season.”
Team weaknesses: Having graduated six seniors — Mary Carol Davis, Natalie Shockey, Susan Taylor, Lindsey Glover, Sarah Prochazka and Kalee Wiedower — the coach said it was no surprise that the Lady Cyclones would have to deal with inexperience this season.
Games to watch: Wiedower said the newly realigned 7A/6A Central would make for an exciting season. The league now includes Conway, Fort Smith Northside, Fort Smith Southside, Greenwood, Mount St. Mary, Little Rock Hall and Little Rock Parkview, as well as the Lady Cyclones. “This new conference is going to be very, very tough,” he said. “It will have five or six of the top teams in the entire state.”
Toughest opponent: Russellville has several. Fort Smith Northside was the Class 7A state runner-up a year ago. Greenwood won the Class 5A state title, and Little Rock Parkview is back to defend its Class 6A title. Little Rock Hall reached the semifinals of the Class 7A tournament. Fort Smith Southside and Conway are also formidable, Wiedower said.
College prospects: None at this time.
In a nutshell: It will be a different kind of season than last year’s, but Wiedower said he and his team are excited about their prospects in 2012-13 and look forward to the season. His Russellville teams have finished 10-17, 22-7 and 22-9, so a winning culture has prevailed in recent years.