Leopards hoping to get healthy

December 06, 2006 - Posted at 12:00 a.m.

BY COY SLAVIK - ADVOCATE SPORTS EDITOR

If a pair of returning starters can heal quickly from football injuries, the Van Vleck Leopards may enjoy a long and successful season on the basketball court.

Coach Bob Lantelme returned four starters from last season's 22-11 team, but two of the starters - 6-foot senior post Josh Allen (broken collarbone) and 5-7 senior wing Kenyon Howell (broken leg) - are trying to overcome football injuries.

"Due to the injuries, we have to rely on younger players moving up to the varsity," said Lantelme, who has a 153-91 career record entering his seventh season at Van Vleck.

Victor Pena, a 5-6 senior guard, and Horace Bryant, a 5-10 senior wing, are the other returning starters. Lantelme has quality depth and height with 6-3 junior post Avery Griffin, 6-2 senior post Blake Bolton, 6-1 junior wing Michael Alliniece, and 6-4 junior post Ramong Howell. Greg Gamez, a 5-9 junior wing, will also see much action.

EDNA HAS HIGH HOPES

The Edna Cowboys hope moving from Class 3A to 2A will mean a playoff trip for the first time since 2003.

Second-year coach Derek Ozuna has two starters - 6-foot senior guard Hunter Hicks (12 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg) and 5-11 junior guard Dardrick Franklin (7 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg) - back from last year's 15-19 team.

"We will be young but athletic," Ozuna said. "We must commit to team defense and play at a high energy level to be competitive."

Three players - 6-3 junior guard Jacob Hamilton (5 ppg), 6-1 junior forward-post Michael Vickery (4 ppg, 3 rpg), and 5-11 sophomore guard Fletcher Robinson (5 ppg, 3 rpg) - are varsity-tested.

Ganado rebuilding

 

The Ganado Indians were 2-21 last year, but return three starters. Back for the Indians are 5-10 junior guard Seth Labay, 5-10 junior guard Hunter Hlavaty, and 6-4 senior center Chris Green. First-year coach Demetrece Williams expects 6-foot freshman guard Donavan Foster and 6-2 junior forward Kolby Tegler to see much action.

 

Rhodes back for Wildcats

The Weimar Wildcats made it to the regional semifinals last year and return one of the area's top players in 6-4 sophomore post Marcus Rhodes, who was the Newcomer of the Year on the 2006 Advocate All-Area Team after averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.

The Wildcats, who were 30-5 last season, also welcomed back 5-8 junior guard Cassius Johnson, who averaged 13 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists last year on the way to earning TABC all-region honors.

Weimar coach Charles Henke is hoping Rhodes or Johnson will become the team leader and help fill the shoes of graduated Quenton Kirby, who was the Advocate All-Area Team's MVP.

"We need to find some leadership and be more consistent with scoring," said Henke, who is in his second year as the Wildcats' head coach.

Henke will be looking for 5-6 senior guard Jay Helmcamp and 5-9 senior forward Errol Jones, both all-district honorable mention selections last season, to add scoring punch. Garvin Burley, a 5-9 senior forward, and Marcus Wilkins, a 6-1 junior post, will also see plenty of playing time.

Shorthorns have no shortage of talent

The Schulenburg Shorthorns return 6-7 senior all-state post Casey Moore (16 ppg, 10 rpg) from last season's 27-5 team that went to the regional semifinals.

Clayton Besetzny, a 5-9 junior guard, was named his district's Newcomer of the Year after averaging 5 points and 3 assists per game. Also back for the Shorthorns are 6-1 senior forward Sterling Koopman (5 ppg, 5 rpg) and 5-11 sophomore guard Byron Powe (3 ppg, 2 rpg).

"We'll need to adjust to a more wide-open offense as we attempt to take advantage of the talent that we have," said Shorthorns coach Richard Hoogendoorn, who has a 136-61 record entering his seventh season at the school.

Hoogendoorn has depth with 6-5 junior post Shane Mayberry (4 ppg, 4 rpg) and 6-1 senior forward Travis Houston (7 ppg, 3 rpg).

Bobcats have good nucleus

The Bloomington Bobcats just missed making the playoffs last year and have three starters back, including all-district 5-10 junior guard Philly Garcia, who averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds per game last season.

Other starters back for Bloomington are 5-8 senior guard Nicko Chapa (6 ppg, 2 rpg) and 5-10 senior guard Travis Hoffman (8 ppg, 2 rpg).

Second-year coach Gabriel Luna, who guided the Bobcats to a 17-11 record last season, expects big contributions from 6-2 junior post Darby House (6 ppg, 4 rpg) and 5-6 sophomore guard Daylan Bubenick (4 ppg, 3 apg).

Brahmas counting on youth

New Hallettsville coach Rich Dozier inherited only one starter and three lettermen from last year's 14-17 team.

Bradley Kresta, a 5-11 senior guard, was a second-team all-district selection last year. Damaris Bedford, a 5-7 senior guard, and Quinton Threadgill, a 5-5 senior guard, are the only other players with any varsity experience.

New coach at Tidehaven

Tim Johnson will try to lead the Tidehaven Tigers to their first playoff berth since 1999.

He'll have to do it with only one returning starter - 6-2 senior post Justin Harvey. Johnson is counting on 6-foot junior forward Rondie Singletary, 5-9 junior guard Mike Brown, 5-9 junior guard Jeremy Sanford, and 5-8 junior guard Jonney Jimenez to play big minutes.

"We need to be quick on defense and be able to hit the threes," Johnson said. "Our defense will be good, but we'll have to work hard on offense."

Badgers hungry for playoffs

Karnes City hasn't been to the postseason since 1999, and first-year coach Sean Armstrong hopes to turn around the Badgers' fortunes.

Karnes City, which was 5-25 last season, has one starter back in 6-2 junior forward Clayton Reynolds (6 ppg, 4 rpg), who was a second-team all-district choice last season.

Chris Ramirez, a 5-4 junior point guard, saw plenty of playing time last season. Armstrong will count on 6-3 junior post Jayson Hierholzer (6 ppg, 5 rpg), 5-7 junior guard Derek Torres, 5-6 sophomore point guard Drew Holland, and 6-5 senior post Doug Patton to provide quality depth.

"We'll have to play hard and work hard every day," Armstrong said. "We will be very inexperienced this season."

Kenedy has plenty of experience

The Kenedy Lions made the playoffs last season and finished with a 22-12 record. They return their top player, 6-2 senior forward-center Josh Bailey (18 ppg, 10 rpg), who was an all-district performer, and 5-11 senior forward-center Robert Rodriguez (10 ppg, 8 rpg), who was a second-team all-district selection.

Anthony Alvarado, a 5-6 senior point guard who averaged 4 points and 5 assists per game, is another returning starter for the Lions. Coach Carlos Perez hopes 5-9 senior forward Jeremy Villanueva (5 ppg, 2 rpg), 6-2 sophomore center Caleb Janysek, 5-8 senior guard Josh Villarreal, and 5-9 junior forward Ernest Pena can give the Lions some quality minutes.

Mustangs seek return to playoffs

Nixon-Smiley coach Carlton McKinney returns only one starter.

Joseph Okeke, a 6-3 senior guard, averaged 11.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last year on the way to being named his district's Newcomer of the Year. Okeke will be complemented by 5-10 senior forward Chase Lamza (6.0 ppg) and 5-6 senior point guard Brandon Johnson (5.3 ppg, 3.0 apg) also saw varsity action last season. Luis Martinez, a 6-2 junior center, and Joe Perez, a 5-8 senior guard, both starred on the Mustangs' JV last season.