2010 Black Diamond Dist Boys Basketball Preview

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Published in Bristol Herald Courier December 17th

 

BOYS

 

Pre-season Coaches Poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

 

1. Hurley (4)--------16

2. Honaker (1)---------13

3. Haysi----------------9

4. Council---------------8

5. Twin Valley----------4

 

 

COUNCIL

 

District, Region: Black Diamond, Region D

Group, Division: Group A, Division 1

Coach: Ben Jackson

2009-10 record: 10-13, 2-6

 

Key returners: Chris Tiller, G., sr. (10.2 ppg); Billy Presley, G/F,jr., Ryan Owens, F, sr.

 

Promising newcomers: Dylan Cook, sr.; Cameron Presley, soph.; C.J. Ratliff, sr.

 

Key losses: Travis Viers (12 ppg); Shane Presley, Jeff Gilbert

 

Outlook: Ben Jackson takes over for Jeremy Ratliff and is Council's third head coach in four years.

 

Like Ratliff, and Neil Rasnake before him, Jackson played for former coach Rick Goodman, who led the Cobras to six state tournaments in 10 years. Jackson was the point guard on Council's 2001 Group A championship team.

 

Jackson, who guided the CHS girls program to its first state tourney two years ago, inherits just one returning starter. Senior guard Chris Tiller, an excellent long range shooter, moves to the point. Ball handling is a concern. Post play shouldn't be, however, with 6-foot-4 senior Dylan Cook, who sat out last season, and 6-foot-2 junior Billy Presley, a still-raw talent who is the team's best athlete.

 

Coach's Quote: "We're going to struggle running plays, struggle with turnovers, and not paly the defense any team must play to at first," Jackson said. "But, as the season goes on, I think we'll get better at doing the small things it takes to make an offense click. We have a few guys that can step up and help. And, we will play hard on defense. I think, by the end of the season, we can be competitive with any team we play." - Ben Jackson

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HAYSI

 

District, Region: Black Diamond, Region D

Group, Division: Group A, Division 2

Coach: David Robinette

2009-10 record: 12-11, 5-3

 

Key returners: Byron Bowman, G., sr. (14.8ppg, All-BDD), Dakota Stanley, PG, jr.; Dannon O'Quinn, C., sr.

 

Promising newcomers: Peyton O'Quinn, soph.; Zach Owens, soph.

 

Key losses: Chris Fleming (BDD Player of the Year); Jeremy Yates

 

Outlook: The Tigers relied heavily in recent years on Chris Fleming, a great all-around talent who helped the Tigers earn a share of the BDD regular-season title a year ago.

 

Haysi still has a solid and experienced backcourt, with savvy junior point guard Dakota Stanley and sharp-shooter Byron Bowman, the club's second-leading scorer last season.

 

Post Dannon O'Quinn is a key inside, especially while the Tigers break in several players from a JV championship team.

 

The newcomers are expected to add to the team's strengths, which include quickness and defense.

 

Coach's Quote: "We lost a lot from last year. You can't replace a Chris Fleming. We need everybody to step up and score, but I feel like we'll develop into a good team. Playing a difficult schedule and playing in a tough district will make us grow up quick." - David Robinette

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HONAKER

 

District, Region: Black Diamond, Region D

Group, Division: Group A, Division 2

Coach: Marcus Dunham

2009-10 record: 12-15, 4-4

 

Promising newcomers: Payton Ball, F, soph.; Blake Ray, G

 

Key losses Clark Dye, Clay Smith, Tyler Brown

 

Outlook: Honaker has a new coach in Marcus Dunham, who follows in the footsteps of his father, Stan (Northwood, Rich Valley) and grandfather, Mark (Richlands), as a head coach.

 

The Tigers made a surprise run to ghe Group A quarter-finals last season, and have seven returnees from that club's 10-man rotation.

 

Expect the same frenetic style this season. The Tigers will again have a deep bench, so Dunham can continue to rely on relentless pressure defense.

 

The same frenzied pace and substitution rotation that often disrupts opposing team sometimes hurt the Tigers' offensive continuity last season. Dunham says his club needs to find a way to score on a more consistent basis.

 

Sophomore point guard Ty Hall will play a bigger role in the backcourt, where he joins seniors Ethan Davis and Blake Gent. Junior Jeremiah Dye and senior Cory Borwn, meanwhile, are keys on offense in the frontcourt.

 

Coach's Quote: "We have a ton of experience, and with our depth we can play an up-tempo style for four quarters and wear opposing teams down. We have to do a better job scoring in the halfcourt. I have a great group of kids that are willing to work and sacrifice for the good of the team for the ultimate goal of winning. With this mentality we can take our season two steps further from last year." - Marcus Dunham

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HURLEY

 

District, Region: Black Diamond, Region D

Group, Division: Group A, Division 1

Coach: Mark Cooper

2009-10 record: 15-12, 5-3

 

Key returners: Austin Cooper, G, jr. (10 ppg, 4.5 assists); Tyler Cooper, G, jr. (17.2 ppg); Dustin Waynick, F, jr. (15.3 ppg, 3.0 blocks); Thomas Allen, F, jr.

 

Promising newcomers: Wesley Peck, PG., jr.

 

Key losses: Larry Burks

 

Outlook: Hurley won the BDD title in a playoff and got its frist Region D playoff win in 17 years last season. Now it hopes to match the 1993 squad's run to the state with four returning starters, including the top three-scorers from a year ago.

 

Any one of the Rebels' three third-year regulars can carry the team on any given night. Six-foot seven Dustin Waynick, who can contribute inside and out, will now have help in the post with 6-foot-4 Austin Cooper moving from the point.

 

Cooper's versatility, Waynick's athleticism and Tyler Cooper's ability to score from long range or off the dribble, presents matchup problems for opposing defenses.

 

Fresham poing guard Wesley Peck is part of a supporting cast that includes veterans Thomas Allen, Todd Hurley and Carey Brown. Any of the four could play pivotal roles.

 

Coach's Quote: "We've known all along that if these three players (Tyler Cooper, Austin Cooper and Dustin Waynick) continue to progress and get stronger, they can be as good as any players we've had at Hurley. We know it takes not only skill, but a lot of luck to reach the state, but this is a special group of young men that know what they want and are working hard to accomplish it." - Mark Cooper

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TWIN VALLEY

 

District, Region: Black Diamond, Region D

Group, Division: Group A, Division 1

Coach: Brian Moore

2009-10 record: 10-14, 4-4

 

Key returners: Cody Hubbard, PG, sr.,: Daniel Hobbs, F, jr.

 

Promising newcomers: Shannon Adams, G., fr.; Joseph Fletcher, G, jr.; Dalton Harris, G, soph.; Logan Cantrell, F, soph.

 

Key losses: Josh Smith (over 1,000 career points and rebounds); Lucas Shortridge

 

Outlook: In losing former BDD Player of the Year Josh Smith and Lucas Shortridge to the college ranks, Twin Valley has lost its final connection to its recent state tournament teams. The Panthers reached the state semifinals three times in four years, including the finals in 2006.

 

Only two starters return, and only senior guard Cody Hubbard and junior wing Daniel Hobbs have any significant varsity experience. The Panthers face a major rebuilding task.

 

Hobbs is capable of 15 to 20 points a night, and showed flashes of things to come late last season. Hubbard has the potential for the same, and the Panthers need production from their only senior.

 

Among the newcomers is a 3-point threat in Joseph Fletcher, a point guard who could free up Hubbard to move to the wing in Dalton Harris and a solid all-around athlete in Shannon Adams.

 

Coach's Quote: "Right now, we just need to work on the fundamentals and stress defense and rebounding. This is a huge challenge, but it's one that we're looking forward to taking on. This team has a lot of potential, and if they continue to work hard and remain competitive in practice they'll get better as the season moves along. I actually expect us to improve enough this season to make the next couple of seasons very exciting." - Brian Moore

 

 

 

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