Corsicana Tigers

Coach: Don Newton

Years at Corsicana: 3

2011-2012 Record: 11-19, 4-12

Last Playoff Appearance: 2008-09, bi-district finalists

Key Returnees: C Ernest McGhee, G Dzifa Mallet, G Tedrick Wilson, G Tim Lang

Team Strength: Coaching. Newton gets the maximum out of his team and has the program headed in the right direction.

Comment: The Tigers return only one starter (McGhee) but they should contend for a playoff spot ... McGhee, a 6-3 senior, averaged eight points and three rebounds per game ... Newton said there is potential to fill the scoring void left by three key seniors — Tevin McDonald, Jack Saipongi and Christian Hines — and Mallet, Lang and Mike Lewis all have the potential from the guard spot ... Jamaal Evans will help provide scoring punch in the post.



Blooming Grove Lions

Coach: Ben Kinnison

Years at Blooming Grove: 2

2011-2012 Record: 4-24, 2-10

Last Playoff Appearance: 1978-79

Key Returnees: PG Daniel Pelzel, P Jacob Conger

Team Strength: Experience. The Lions return four starters off a team that played a difficult schedule last year.

Comment: Pelzel is a two-time All-Golden Circle and all-district selection ... he averaged 10 points, three rebounds and four assists ... Conger was a first-team all-district pick last year and led the Lions in scoring (13 ppg) and rebounding (10 rpg).

 

Kerens Bobcats

Coach: Don Enis

Years at Kerens: 6

2011-2012 Record: 24-9, 10-0

Last Playoff Appearance: 2011-12, state semifinalists

Key Returnees: P Tobyus Thomas, G Kevin Townsel, P Shelton Sayles, G Nate Betts, P Bubba Sayles, P Taylor Modester, P Daedrion Tolliver

Team Strength: Strong resume and coaching. The Bobcats have many of the players back off of last year’s state tournament team and Enis gives the program tremendous stability.  

Comment: The Bobcats made history last season making their first trip to the UIL State Tournament, falling to Mumford in the state semifinals ... Thomas (6-2, Sr.) was a consistent scorer and rebounder for the Bobcats, averaging a double-double during the playoffs ... Sayles (6-1, Jr.) was the All-Golden Circle Sixth Man of the Year, providing the Bobcats with scoring and defense off the bench ... Betts (6-2, So.) was the Newcomer of the Year, hitting several key shots in the playoffs ... Townsel was a first team all-district selection.

 

Rice Bulldogs

Coach: Phillip Eddins

Years at Rice: 1

2011-2012 Record: 9-20, 2-8

Last Playoff Appearance: 2006-07, bi-district finalists

Key Returnees: F Ragan Henderson, G Dalton Pike, PG Austin Peppers, PF Raven Huffman

Team Strength: Leadership. The Bulldogs have leaders in Henderson and Pike, who are in their third season on varsity.

Comment: Eddins, who was the head coach at Savoy, takes over for Eddie Barker, who had a decade-long run at Rice ... Pike, a 6-5 shooter, missed much of the district schedule last season, taking away Rice’s top scorer (18.4 ppg) and rebounder ... Rice will switch to a motion offense that will have everyone handling the basketball, starting with 5-foot-6 sophomore Peppers, who played some last season.



Frost Polar Bears

Coach: Eric Blenden

Years at Frost: 3

2011-2012 Record: 23-7, 8-0

Last Playoff Appearance: 2011-12, area finalists

Key Returnees: F Danial Steels, PG Jacob Stroder, G Robert Worley

Team Strength: Experience. Frost returns a winning team and a roster full of players who have played together for two years.

Comment: Frost has all five starters returning from a district champion ... Steels (6-2), an All-Golden Circle Co-Offensive Player of the Year, averaged 22.5 points and 10 rebounds per game ... Worley (5-11) was the district newcomer of the year, averaging 12.3 points and 4.3 assists per game ... Stroder brings leadership and a strong presence to the point guard position.



Dawson Bulldogs

Coach: Darious Slade

Years at Dawson: 1

2011-2012 Record: 11-18, 3-7

Last Playoff Appearance: 2010-11, bi-district finalists

Key Returnees: G Louis Lachney, P Mark Martinez, G Marvin Manning, G Caleb Grant, F Lane Dotson  

Team Strength: Scoring. The Bulldogs have several potential double-figure scorers.

Comment: Slade, who is from Hubbard, takes over the boys program at Dawson ... He has two double-figure scorers back with Lachney (6-1, Sr.), who averaged 10 points and nine rebounds per game, and Martinez (5-10, Sr.), who averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game ... Manning (5-8, 160) averaged 22 points and nine assists last year for Cy Falls.  



Hubbard Jaguars

Coach: Marcus Simmons

Years at Hubbard: 1

2011-2012 Record: 20-6, 12-0

Last Playoff Appearance: 2011-12, area finalists

Key Returnees: G D’Warren Simmons

Team Strength: Quickness. The Jaguars can get up and down the court.

Comment: Simmons takes over the boys program after coaching the Lady Jaguars basketball team last season ... Hubbard lost in the area round to Muenster 65-49 ... junior guard D’Warren Simmons averaged 8.1 points, 3.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds.



Mildred Eagles

Coach: Daniel Johnston

Years at Mildred: 2

2011-2012 Record: 16-5, 10-2

Last Playoff Appearance: 2011-12, bi-district finalists

Key Returnees: F Nic Shimonek, P Johnathan Harrison, G Draylon Sterling, G Jase Butler, F Mike Muncy, PG Connor Hill, G Colby Pair

Team Strength: Offensive firepower. The Eagles have one of the best scorers in area in three-sport standout Shimonek.

Comment: Shimonek was a All-Golden Circle Co-Offensive Player selection after averaging 21 points and 12.4 rebounds per game ... an excellent 3-point shooter, he made seven treys in a game last season ... Mildred has five juniors returning, led by Sterling, a 6-0 guard, and Hill, who takes over at point guard.



Wortham Bulldogs

Coach: Scott Ohlemeier

Years at Wortham: 1

2011-2012 Record: 21-10, 8-2

Last Playoff Appearance: 2011-12, area finalists

Key Returnees: PG Brysen Rhodes, G Tyvon Freeman, P Kyle Chasteen, P Daniel Trantham, G Tyree Freeman

Team Strength: Guard play. The Bulldogs lost sharpshooter Cooper Warren, but they still have plenty of quickness to go around.

Comment: Ohlemeier takes over for Owen Clifton ... the Bulldogs had a solid team last season, beating Valley Mills in a bi-district game before losing to eventual state tournament qualifier Kerens, 62-51, in the area round ... Rhodes, a 6-2 junior guard, averaged 7.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists and was an all-district pick last season.