Dragons' post duo presents problems in paint

Missed shots aren’t the worst thing for Junction City. In fact, Coach Kendall Hutcheson doesn’t mind them at all. The Dragons’ frontcourt duo of Jerrodney Tubbs and Charles Hoof believe every missed shot is a pass to them.

Tubbs, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior, and Hoof, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior, are hard to stop when they get the basketball in their hands around the basket. When a shot goes up, it’s hard to stop them from getting the basketball in their hands.

“If we get the ball on the rim, we’ve got a great chance to go get it,” said Hutcheson. “We feel like if we get the ball in the middle of the paint on penetration, we’re going to score nine out of ten times, either on a shot or on a put back.”

For the better part of a decade, the Dragons’ offense has gone insideout, dating back to the days of current football Razorback Jamario Bell, who led the team to the state championship game. A three-year starter, Tubbs picked the ball up upon Bell’s departure and helped the Dragons advance to the 3A state semifinals last year.

“Our post game is going to carry us. There’s no doubt about that,” said Hutcheson. “I think we’ve got the two best post guys in the state of Arkansas as far as 2A goes. They’re just so physical and tough inside. We’ve got to get better production out of our guards. We’ve got to get a little more of that inside-out because people are sagging so hard.”

Junction City has gotten off to a slow start this season. The Dragons dropped to 9-6 overall and 7-5 in league play after Thursday’s 60-47 loss at Parkers Chapel.

Hutcheson said turnovers, including many from an inexperienced backcourt, has the team experiencing early growing pains.

“That’s kind of our issue. When we get the ball inside, we’re really hard to stop. We’re not getting the ball inside enough. We had 24 turnovers the other night and gave up 28 points off turnovers against PC,” he said. “We probably average 20 turnovers a game. We’re just not taking care of the ball very well. When we do get it inside, we’re hard to stop. We’re just so physical inside.

“We just have to get the ball on the rim. Right now, we’re not getting the ball on the rim - too many turnovers, not getting shots. We had 25 trips where we didn’t get shots the other night.”

Tubbs has been Junction City’s first scoring option the past two seasons. On the low block, once he makes the catch, it’s pretty much a wrap.

“The only thing you can do once he gets the ball is hope he misses and try to get the ball and get a rebound,” said Parkers Chapel coach Josh Langley. “He’s a load down there. He’s definitely the toughest match-up in the conference as far as big guys. There are a couple guys that can jump. There’s nobody that can bulldoze you around like he does.”

Hoof does his best work on the glass. When teams double-team Tubbs on one side, his teammate leaves a Hoof print on the other side of the backboard.

“Charles is just a warrior on the boards,” said Hutcheson. “He grabbed a rebound against Lafayette County. Just grabbing the rebound, the whole bench stood up. He just went up with one hand and ripped it down under his arm in the middle of three people and then went back up and scored. He’s just a warrior on the glass.

“Jerrodney is so physical when he gets it. He’s hard to stop on the post. Jerrodney is probably a little more skilled on the offensive end. I think Charles’ motor just runs harder. He never stops going to the glass.”

The duo has started to assert itself over the past few games. They combined for 33 rebounds against Lafayette County.

“I’ve played them a lot together the last three or four games. I know, against Hampton, the Bearden game, the Lafayette County game, they’re both averaging about 14 boards a game,” said Hutcheson. “When you’ve got two guys getting 28 rebounds inside, we probably average out out-rebounding our opponents about 17 or 18 boards a game the last two or three weeks. They’re a force inside, that’s for sure.”

Junction City’s season will go as far as the posts can tote it. How well the guards deliver the ball inside will also be a key factor. Of course, with Tubbs and Hoof, Hutcheson said it doesn’t take a pin-point pass to get the job done.

“They feel like they can get the ball anytime. They feel like if you just throw it up, we’ll find a way to get it. That’s both of their mentalities,” Hutcheson said. “Our philosophy has kind of been, if people are going to front the post, we’re going to try to shoot a bunch of mid-range shots. They already have offensive rebound position, we’ll just let ‘em go get it.”