Local Sports
Rusk’s formula for success: Depth + experience = playoffs
By Jay Neal
sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com
RUSK — Rusk head coach Tracy Kincade doesn’t beat around the bush when talk turns to the possibility, or probability, of his Eagles making the state Class 3A playoffs this season.
Kincade, along with many other folks in southern Cherokee County, fully believe the Eagles to have all the components necessary for the team to finish at or near the top of the District 18-3A standings this go-round.
Rusk’s strengths are its experience and depth.
“We’re very experienced and we have a lot of depth,” Kincade said during Tuesday’s annual Media Day. “We play 12 guys and they all get a lot of playing time. The depth is there and (frankly) I think we are a playoff caliber team this year.”
The Eagles have eight seniors coming back, four of whom are returning starters.
“With eight seniors on the roster, we will go as far as those seniors take us,” Kincade said. “But, I think as the season goes on, the actions and the play of the seniors will start to trickle down to the younger guys as well.”
Rusk is led by 6-foot-2 senior, Michael Katon. Katon is off to a blistering start this year, averaging 21 points a game and 15 rebounds in Rusk’s first three outings — the Eagles are 2-1 on the year.
“Michael (Katon) is playing just about as well as I thought he would be playing,” Kincade said. “He’s been playing well all around and has just been a beast on the boards.”
Kincade said the promise and expectation of this year’s Eagles is much like the proverbial phoenix rising out of the ashes.
“This has been a rebuilding job; the program was down for five or six years, but we have turned things around now,” Kincade, in his fourth year at Rusk, said. “It takes time to rebuild a program and I think we are headed in the right direction.
“I’ve had this group of seniors since they were freshmen, so they have been in the program for a while now. We’re now starting to see the fruit of all their work over the past several years.”
Other key contributors for the Red and Black are John David Beard (11 ppg, 9 rpg), DeMarrio Richards (12 ppg), Blake Fletcher (11 ppg) and Kalon Skinner (11 ppg).
Kincade also mentioned that there are guys like Derrick Sanders, Mike Pyle, Brandon Downs, Taj Cleaver and Ray Harris who can come in off the bench and are capable of adding seven or eight points on any given night.
The Eagles finished 19-13, 5-9 in district, a year ago but are predicted to battle Lufkin Hudson for supremacy in the league this year.
- Local Sports
-
-
Redmon guides Bearcats to homecoming victory
Lon Morris College combined a fantastic night at the charity stripe with stellar 3-point shooting to hand Lamar State-Port Arthur (LSPA) a 73-63 defeat in a Region XIV affair played at the Vivian and Bob Smith Events Center Saturday evening.
-
Tyler gets past Lady ‘Cats in final minute
In a classic see-saw battle, Tyler Junior College used three free throws in the final 73 seconds to separate themselves from Lon Morris College as the Apache Ladies eeked out a 60-57 Region XIV win over the Lady Bearcats at the Vivian and Bob Smith Events Center Saturday afternoon.
-
Jacksonville College defeats San Jac, twice
HOUSTON — Jacksonville College basketball teams were in action Saturday evening in the greater Houston area, with both the Lady Jaguars and their male counterparts notching precious Region XIV road victories.
-
Sports Schedules, Feb. 9, 2010
Feb. 9
Basketball
JHS boys at Kilgore, 7:30 p.m.
Rusk girls and boys vs. Carthage, 5:30 p.m.
New Summerfield girls and boys vs. Mt. Enterprise, 5 p.m.
Bullard girls and boys vs. Spring Hill, 6:30 p.m.
Soccer
JHS boys at Lufkin Hudson, 7 p.m.
JHS girls vs. Lufkin Hudson, 7 p.m.
Tennis
JHS JV at Lindale Tournament, 8 a.m. -
Jacksonville turns back Lions, 62-50
Jacksonville’s array of weapons proved to be too much for Henderson Friday night at the JHS Gymnasium.
The Lions put up a good fight, but as soon as they shut down one Indian, another would step up and get the job done.
In the end, Jacksonville upped their worksheet to 21-6, 8-0 in District 14-4A, by beating the Lions 62-50. -
Brook Hill’s Chappelle, Dickey make college decisions
An atmosphere of football could be found both outside as well as inside the Kyle Lake Athletic Center at The Brook Hill School Thursday afternoon.
Outside, chilling rain under a gray sky — late season football weather, indeed.
Inside, an overflow crowd made up of a plethora of Guard football players, coaches and administrators who joined with Guard supporters and a large group of local media.
The occasion?
To witness first hand two of the Guard’s very best gridiron talents (Jeremey Chappelle and Heath Dickey) sign their respective National Letter of Intent. -
February is when pre-spawn fishing is at its best
February is the month when pre-spawn fishing is at its best. All we need is a few days of sunshine and warm weather to kick start the season.
-
Maidens capture second-straight 14-4A title; Scott scores 22
HENDERSON — Jacksonville head coach Jason Crow, not at all pleased with a meager four-point halftime lead, called his team out during the break Friday, demanding the Maidens get their act together on defense.
-
Bullard sweeps Chapel Hill in district hoops action
NEW CHAPEL HILL — Bullard won a pair of District 17-3A contests over Chapel Hill Friday night at Bulldog Gymnasium.
The Lady Panthers bombed the Lady Bulldogs, 70-28, behind a 22-point performance by Christina Hatten. -
Texas sportswriters honor four Indians
Jacksonville High School placed four representatives on the Collin Street Bakery/ Texas Sports Writers Association’s Class 4A All-state football squad which was announced Friday.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
