beaverball 10 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 http://www.bdtonline.com/localsports/local_story_071233935.html?keyword=secondarystory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefieldRocks 14 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 BLUEFIELD  State tournament time is practically routine at Bluefield High School. For the fourth time in Coach Ernie Gilliard’s four years at the helm of the BHS boys basketball program, the Beavers are preparing to play in the Charleston championship series. It’s the fourth time in four years for senior Dexter Moore, joined by fellow seniors Kyle Hammond, Chance Cottrell and Julian Harris. Last year’s team made it to the Class AA finals before losing the lead in the second half to Ravenswood, which claimed the crown. The Beavers lost several key players from that squad, but didn’t miss a beat, posting a 20-2 record this season. Moore said, “We came out working on it a little harder this year to try to get back where we were last year and, hopefully, win it this year.†Cottrell said, smiling, “We ran a whole lot more.†Moore said that the key to performing well at the tournament is “just keeping your composure and sticking to your assignments  the little things.†Gilliard remembered before Monday’s practice that Moore had shown his cool when he first reported for practice. “Four years ago, when he was a freshman, we looked at him. We stuck him in there, and you would think he’d have a ‘deer-in-the-headlights’ look. “Here he is, a lowly freshman, competing against juniors and seniors, some kids who are possibly two or three years older than he was. “But that didn’t shake him or rattle him at all. He calmly and collectedly did those things that have become his trademark  and that was, hit the perimeter jump shot, make nice cuts to the basket with the ball and attacking the rim.†“From that point right there, we knew that he was going to be a very special player.†He has been assigned even more duties in his senior year, the coach said. “Dexter has sacrificed his individual output, in terms of scoring, to be point guard  to run the team, and make sure everybody’s in the right spot, and that the ball is going to the right places and the right time. “Even in the midst of that, giving up the ball ... he still has managed to average about 20.1 points per game.†If a team focuses on him, Moore said the Beavers have plenty of other shooting options. “We move the ball a lot better than last year,†he said. “We find the open man and they’re knocking down the shots.†Cottrell volunteered another difference this season. “We just went inside more this year, I think, than we did last ... to get the other team in foul trouble. Most people can’t match up with our big guys.†Hammond was a self-described “sixth man†last year, and that suited him fine. Now a starter on the wing, he said, “I just waited my time, and now I’m here.†He said, “We just work hard every day. ... The team chemistry is really great this year. Everybody just works together well. When asked what Hammond does to make the team excel, Gilliard said, “Kyle does a little bit of everything. First and foremost, he’s a very coachable young man  a great leader, a person who leads by example. Whatever we’ve asked him to do, he’s done that. “He’s probably more suited to play on the perimeter, (but) we’ve actually asked him to play in the paint some. He does that. His sole effort is for the good of the team. “He’s a good defender for us. He’s capable of posting up and playing inside, he’s capable of coming out on the perimeter and scoring. And he handles the ball well. ... “He’s very quiet  sometimes, we feel, too quiet. But he leads by example, and I think his voice is heard loud and clear by his performance on the court.†Gilliard said that Cottrell “is probably one of the smarter post men that we’ve had since I’ve been here. He’s done a tremendous job of defending; he’s gotten several steals from the post position. “He anticipates the ball (movement) and the passes extremely well. ... He sees the floor extremely well. “He plays real hard for us and gives us all we’ve got. ... We’re very pleased with his performance this year.†Harris just joined the varsity this year. Gilliard said. “It is indeed a pleasure to have a kid like Justin Harris who has great range ... , good athletic ability, a pretty good leaper in there. He’s a real hard-nosed kid. “We can only imagine how good he would have been had he been with us for the previous three years. We’re thrilled to death with what he brings to the table. “As a matter of fact, his presence on the floor takes a little more pressure off of Dexter now, because of his ability to hit the perimeter shot. “That gives us a lot of balance, there ... a lot of diversity. That has also contributed to our ability to distribute the ball and have balanced scoring.†Bluefield opens up tournament play on Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Civic Center Coliseum against Magnolia High School. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefieldRocks 14 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Moore in my honest opinion will step it up another notch, and show why he's one of the best players in the state of WV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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