Friend us on Facebook
December 3rd, 2010
Whole new experience for Titan boys basketball coach
The Carl Albert Lady Titans have stamped themselves as a mainstay in the Class 5A state basketball tournament under head coach Tim Price.
After hovering above the field in the rankings for much of last season, the Lady Titans were eliminated by McAlester in the opening round of state and wound up with a stalwart 22-5 mark.
But Price has some scrappy athletes returning again this year.
"Five-10 Toni Cheadle and 5-10 Cherrelle Price are both back healthy for us," he said. "Cheadle is a solid player who understands the game and understands the system, and we will be depending on her a great deal. She's really athletic, a rebounding machine and will get some blocked shots."
Also getting plenty of playing time last season was Whitney Robinson.
"She's a hard-nosed athlete that competes and is our best defender who hates to lose," Price said. "Whitney knows her role and she'll do her thing this year."
Another 5-10 thoroughbred Price possesses in his stable is sophomore guard Gioya Carter, who has been recruited by Louisville, Maryland, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. A letter from top-flight Connecticut also arrived in the mail.
"Gioya Carter will be as important as anybody," Price said. "She was eligible last season after Christmas because of the transfer rule. We depend on her heavily."
Others expected to post more playing minutes include junior post Alicia Frazier, senior Ariana Smith and the ball-handling Aaliyah Sebock.
The Lady Titans lost 6-footers Kylie Mayes and Desiree Bradley to graduation. Both were four-year starters and both eclipsed the 1,000-point barrier in their careers.
Carl Albert will open the season with Choctaw at 1 p.m. on Dec. 9 in the Harrah Tournament.
GLOOMY PICTURE
On the boys' side, the picture is gloomy.
In 16 years of coaching at the varsity level, head coach Jay Price has never had a season without a returning starter.
This season, somebody will have to step up for the Titans, as only a total of 26 points from the previous season is back on the floor, without a returning starter.
"We are brand new, really young, very inexperienced and just trying to put the pieces together," Price said. "Two kids (6-2, senior Antonio Marshall and junior guard Dondre Brookins) are good athletes and can help us out. Several sophomores are really good players (and) will play a lot. We'll just have to see who can perform in a game situation " who can handle it and who can't " and that's where we're at right now."
Those sophomores include Carlbe Ervin, Deontae Long, Javieon Gray and Jared Price.
STATE ASPIRATIONS
Two-time state champion Jared Porter has graduated but last season's state placers are expected to step up for Fay Barnett's grapplers in the upcoming campaign that kicks off Dec. 10 in the Putnam City Tournament.
Carl Albert's Brandon Hughes (119) blanked Deer Creek's Zac Dunlop 6-0 in the consolation finals and fellow Titan Eric Waggoner (130) decisioned Jemuel Duran of Southeast, 5-3, to secure third place. Both are given high grades in the early going by Barnett.
"Brandon Hughes hasn't been wrestling a whole lot of years, so he's doing his best to get better and learn from mistakes," Barnett said. "If he continues to do that, he will have continued success. Eric Waggoner is kind of our workhorse and team leader in the room since August. He is working really hard to continue on the path to a state championship. We have more depth this year than last year and more starters coming back with nine. The year before we had seven."
State champion Claremore has moved up to Class 6A this season. The Titans as a team finished fifth at state in February with 46 points, behind champion Claremore (147), Altus (87.5), Harrah (62.4) and Deer Creek (50).
Two other state placers, Jacob Lusch and Blake Lam, are coming back and four returning regional placers return in Kenton Whittington, Hayden McClain, Matt Jager and Kyle Croak.
"He's (Croak) a hustler, no matter what sport he's doing," Barnett said. "Between Croak and Whittington coming out of football, both of those guys are going to do big things for us. All of our upper weights are coming out of football."
top Carl Albert's Whitney Robinson looks to pass during the 2009-10 playoffs. photo/Kevin Bishop
bottom Gioya Carter drives to the basket during the playoffs in March. photo/Kevin Bishop
After hovering above the field in the rankings for much of last season, the Lady Titans were eliminated by McAlester in the opening round of state and wound up with a stalwart 22-5 mark.
But Price has some scrappy athletes returning again this year.
"Five-10 Toni Cheadle and 5-10 Cherrelle Price are both back healthy for us," he said. "Cheadle is a solid player who understands the game and understands the system, and we will be depending on her a great deal. She's really athletic, a rebounding machine and will get some blocked shots."
Also getting plenty of playing time last season was Whitney Robinson.
"She's a hard-nosed athlete that competes and is our best defender who hates to lose," Price said. "Whitney knows her role and she'll do her thing this year."
Another 5-10 thoroughbred Price possesses in his stable is sophomore guard Gioya Carter, who has been recruited by Louisville, Maryland, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. A letter from top-flight Connecticut also arrived in the mail.
"Gioya Carter will be as important as anybody," Price said. "She was eligible last season after Christmas because of the transfer rule. We depend on her heavily."
Others expected to post more playing minutes include junior post Alicia Frazier, senior Ariana Smith and the ball-handling Aaliyah Sebock.
The Lady Titans lost 6-footers Kylie Mayes and Desiree Bradley to graduation. Both were four-year starters and both eclipsed the 1,000-point barrier in their careers.
Carl Albert will open the season with Choctaw at 1 p.m. on Dec. 9 in the Harrah Tournament.
GLOOMY PICTURE
On the boys' side, the picture is gloomy.
In 16 years of coaching at the varsity level, head coach Jay Price has never had a season without a returning starter.
This season, somebody will have to step up for the Titans, as only a total of 26 points from the previous season is back on the floor, without a returning starter.
"We are brand new, really young, very inexperienced and just trying to put the pieces together," Price said. "Two kids (6-2, senior Antonio Marshall and junior guard Dondre Brookins) are good athletes and can help us out. Several sophomores are really good players (and) will play a lot. We'll just have to see who can perform in a game situation " who can handle it and who can't " and that's where we're at right now."
Those sophomores include Carlbe Ervin, Deontae Long, Javieon Gray and Jared Price.
STATE ASPIRATIONS
Two-time state champion Jared Porter has graduated but last season's state placers are expected to step up for Fay Barnett's grapplers in the upcoming campaign that kicks off Dec. 10 in the Putnam City Tournament.
Carl Albert's Brandon Hughes (119) blanked Deer Creek's Zac Dunlop 6-0 in the consolation finals and fellow Titan Eric Waggoner (130) decisioned Jemuel Duran of Southeast, 5-3, to secure third place. Both are given high grades in the early going by Barnett.
"Brandon Hughes hasn't been wrestling a whole lot of years, so he's doing his best to get better and learn from mistakes," Barnett said. "If he continues to do that, he will have continued success. Eric Waggoner is kind of our workhorse and team leader in the room since August. He is working really hard to continue on the path to a state championship. We have more depth this year than last year and more starters coming back with nine. The year before we had seven."
State champion Claremore has moved up to Class 6A this season. The Titans as a team finished fifth at state in February with 46 points, behind champion Claremore (147), Altus (87.5), Harrah (62.4) and Deer Creek (50).
Two other state placers, Jacob Lusch and Blake Lam, are coming back and four returning regional placers return in Kenton Whittington, Hayden McClain, Matt Jager and Kyle Croak.
"He's (Croak) a hustler, no matter what sport he's doing," Barnett said. "Between Croak and Whittington coming out of football, both of those guys are going to do big things for us. All of our upper weights are coming out of football."
top Carl Albert's Whitney Robinson looks to pass during the 2009-10 playoffs. photo/Kevin Bishop
bottom Gioya Carter drives to the basket during the playoffs in March. photo/Kevin Bishop
Copyright ©2012 Eastword News. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission is prohibited. To obtain permission, contact us.