High school hoops is all about the 3

By Todd Wills

The new credo of a lot of high school basketball coaches?

Jack it up.

If you’ve been to a local game in the last few years, you know the game has become a lot about the shot from behind the arc, from behind 19 feet, 9 inches.

“We played Mildred last night, he wants them to shoot at least 40 3-pointers a game,” Hubbard coach Brian Coffman said. “It removes the paint. The older programs are all about dominating inside the glass.

“Now it’s all about shooting from outside.”

Mildred coach Walker Nichols did confirm to his players that he wants to shoot for 40 3-pointers a game, feeling his team can shoot close to the same percentage from inside the arc as behind it.

“I want to play a game that is fun for the kids,” Mildred coach Walker Nichols said. “It helps sell a program.”

Hubbard has Dae’Vodderick Williams, a 6-4, 260-pound freshman, who plays at the high post. He’s a good rebounder, but he’s also a good outside shooter.

“I try to keep him out of the 3-point range,” Coffman said. “I get him to shoot the 12- to 15-foot shot. But he’ll move out there as the season progresses and as he gets older and quicker.”

Because of the 3-point shot, the motion offense has become a dominant offense at the high school level.

“They see it in NBA and they are bringing it to high school level,” Coffman said.

Kerens has several guards who will crank up a 3-pointer, including Pat Faulk.

Dawson has Dustin Sanders and Nick Warren who can drain the long ball, but Bulldogs coach Gary Kay doesn’t encourage it.

“I want us to take them when they’re there, but it’s not really built into the offense,” Kay said. “I don’t want it to become our main emphasis. You can fall in love with them.”

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Blooming Grove Lions

Coach: Sedrick Love

Years at Blooming Grove: 2

2008-2009 Record: 16-19

Last Playoff Appearance: 1981-82

Key Returnees: Jordan Tennell, Jeff Cagle, Devante Starling, William Lang

Key Losses: Darius Harris, Scott Ackley, Corey Louviere

Team Strength: Experience Comment: The Lions will have strong guard play.

Mildred Eagles

Coach: Walker Nichols

Years at Mildred: 1

2008-2009 Record: 12-14

Last Playoff Appearance: 1990-91

Key Returnees: Drew Burnett, Kevin Dozier, Anthony McQuary

Key Losses: Thomas McDonald, Freddy McDonald

Team Strength: Athleticism, quickness, shooting

Comment: Mildred is a very competitive team that will have to make up for the loss of the McDonalds ... The Eagles like the 3-pointer. Dozier is one of the top outside shooters in the area.

Kerens Bobcats

Coach: Don Enis

Years at Kerens: 2

2008-2009 Record: 20-8

Last Playoff Appearance: 2008-09

Key Returnees: Pat Faulk, Trey Lindsey, Tyler Green, Michael Jordan, DeAndre McAdams, Stephan Thomas

Key Losses: Eric Tolliver, Byron Mitchell, Cameron Betts

Team Strength: Guards, quickness Comment: The Bobcats have been a strong regular-season team. Now they need to put it together for a run in the playoffs.

Rice Bulldogs

Coach: Eddie Barker

Years at Rice: 7

2008-2009 Record: 8-20

Last Playoff Appearance: 2007

Key Returnees: Keith White, Shaquille Fields, Blake Lewis, Fidel Luevano, Hunter Thedford

Key Losses: Sam Gunter, Jimmy Konieczny, Cedrick Freeman

Team Strength: Defense, intensity

Comment: The Bulldogs will try to come together by district play ... Making up for Gunter and Konieczny’s scoring will be key.

Frost Polar Bears

Coach: Clark Moore

Years at Frost: 2

2008-2009 Record: 22-9

Last Playoff Appearance: 2008-09

Key Returnees: Phillip Page, Ty Ritterbach, Kyle Montgomery

Key Losses: Sam Stroder, Anthony Anaya

Team Strength: Experience

Comment: Frost plays a solid floor game under the tutorship of Moore.

Dawson Bulldogs

Coach: Gary Kay

Years at Dawson: 6

2008-2009 Record: 17-11

Last Playoff Appearance: 2008-09

Key Returnees: Dustin Sanders, Nick Warren

Key Losses: Cameron Johnson, Zack Edwards, Kameron Warren

Team Strength: Defense, experience

Comment: Dawson plays in a tough district with Cayuga. There are no easy game ... Sanders and Renfro are both solid scorers.

Hubbard Jaguars

Coach: Brian Coffman

Years at Hubbard: 1

2008-2009 Record: 1-22

Last Playoff Appearance: 2007-08

Key Returnees: Andrew Thompson, Jordan Reinke, Rance Bowers, John Jones

Key Losses: Jermichael Jordan

Team Strength: Height, rebounding, quickness

Comment: Coach Coffman said he hopes his team will “grow during the season” and the goal is to “rebound after a poor season last year and come together as a unit.”

Wortham Bulldogs

Coach: Mark Shelton

Years at Wortham: 1

2008-2009 Record: N/A

Last Playoff Appearance: 2006-07

Key Returnees: Jake Jones, Brandon Lansford, Chris McDaniels

Key Losses: None

Team Strength: Guard play

Comment: Cooper Warren should be one of the top scorers for Wortham this season ... Jones will be one of the top scorers in the Golden Circle.