Conference: 1A-5 North
Coach: Aaron Duvall, three season at school and 10 years total, seven at Little Rock Lutheran
Career record: 149-148
Assistant coach: Megan Tutor
2012-13 Rebels record: Overall, 30-10; conference record, 14-2 (1A-5 North); conference/state titles: 2012 and 2013 conference and district champions
Returning starters: Senior forward Drew Bottoms, 6-1, 9 points per game, 3 rebounds per game; and senior forward Jordan Ogle, 6-1, 4 ppg, 3 rpg, along with the returning sixth man, junior guard Joe Beck, 5-10, 4 ppg.
Best inside players: The Rebels are smaller this year than previous seasons with senior starters Jordan Ogle, 6-1, and Alex Fresneda, 6-0, in the post. Ogle, however, is a returning starter who has the potential and strength to be an inside threat, and Fresneda, a powerful rebounder despite his size, logged minutes last year on a 30-win team, while averaging 3 points and 2 rebounds per game. Bottoms could help in the post, although he is more comfortable as a slashing/scoring guard. The Rebels are counting on sophomore posts Stephen Maus, 6-0, and Wyatt Burgener, 5-10, to help.
Best outside players: Guard play should be a strength again for Sacred Heart. A pair of juniors helps the offense go. Joe Beck was the sixth man for the Rebels last season but will be counted on to do more scoring this season. Beck is a very capable scorer who is a great and has a quick outside jumper. Hunter Andrews, 5-9, also saw action in all 40 games last year for the Rebels and will assume point-guard responsibilities this season. Fellow classmate Andrew Dunlap, 5-8, has bulked up this summer and has developed into an accurate 3-point specialist. Once again, the sophomore class will be counted on to add depth to the backcourt with quick guard Scott Wiedower, 5-8, and Quentin Bowling, 5-9.
Team strengths: The Rebels have talent across all positions, as well as big-game experience. This senior class has played in a total of five state-tournament games. Defensively, the Rebels should be OVERSET FOLLOWS:quick at every spot and should be able to pressure teams into turning the ball over. Sacred Heart also has guys who can score through a more balanced offensive attack. The sophomore class will also help, as they won 18 games last season.
Team weaknesses: Perhaps the biggest weakness is simply size. The Rebels do not have a player on the roster over 6-1. Also, while the depth is talented, it is also young and inexperienced.
Games to watch: The biggest conference games to watch are simply the county rivals Wonderview and Nemo Vista. Both teams will also be competing for the conference title. KIPP Delta is also a conference foe who should be one of the top teams in Class A. Sacred Heart will also welcome Concord, last year’s state runner-up, for Senior Night on Feb. 11 and will renew the rivalry with Conway St. Joseph on Dec. 20. This will be the first time the two schools have met in five years.
College prospects: None.
In a nutshell: Sacred Heart has won 64 games over the last two seasons, the best two-year run in the history of the school. The Rebels expect to win; however, winning this year will prove to be a bit more difficult for the smaller squad. The pieces are there to make a run at a third consecutive conference championship. If the post play holds up, the sophomores adapt quickly and the Rebels manage to win the close games, it has a chance to be another great season in Morrilton.