Shared from the 2/19/2016 El Dorado  eEdition

Something Different

This is a cool day for Union County boys basketball

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El Dorado has moved on from an unexpected setback earlier this week.

And now, the Wildcats will engage in a ballyhooed tilt against Little Rock Parkview. Both El Dorado and Parkview are impressive teams who have sterling win-loss records.

And because El Dorado was defeated by Pine Bluff Tuesday, it currently occupies second place in the 6A-South standings. Meanwhile, Parkview is in first place. The Patriots and Wildcats are separated by only one game.

With all that's at stake tonight in Little Rock – El Dorado is loose and ready to compete. It didn't take long for the 'Cats to get over their loss at Pine Bluff.

"We had what looked like a September or October practice Wednesday. It was a clean practice. Nobody got hurt," Wildcat Coach Gary Simmons said. "But it was a physical practice. It was loud. It was exciting. It was fun to be part of it. Our kids came in and did a great job in practice and during film study (after the loss to Pine Bluff)."

GET BIG

STRONG

By earning a win over Hampton Wednesday at the 7-2A East District Tournament, the Strong Bulldogs qualified for the regional. This is the first time in three seasons that Strong has advanced to the 2A South Regional.

Tonight Strong (17-6) faces Dermott, champion of the North Division. The Rams (20-14) have already thumped Strong once, earning a 64-39 road victory over the Bulldogs in early December.

If Strong is to avenge the loss, it must do a better job of rebounding. Against Hampton, Strong had moments in which it struggled on the boards. Naturally, Strong's timid play in the paint vexed coach Anthony Avery.

It would behoove Strong to get big, get tough down low – especially against Dermott. The Rams have players who are aggressive and can dominate the boards. If Dermott attacks the glass, Strong could have issues.

The Bulldogs may once again be a double-digit loser to Dermott. So if the Bulldogs want to win and secure a quality seed for the regional, they have to get big, and play big boy basketball in the paint.

DO IT

AGAIN

In trouncing the Rison Wildcats Tuesday at the 7-2A East District Tournament, the Junction City Dragons looked every bit the part of a No.1 seed.

Junction City – aside from the opening stages of the game – competed with great energy and capitalized on its advantages against Rison. The Dragons (14-5) now have Bearden in the semifinal round of the tournament.

The Bears (11-6) are Junction City's equal in regard to athletic ability. But the Dragons have two players who can alter the culture of this game.

Tyrus Grayson, a 6-5 forward, does a little bit of everything offensively. The senior had 21 points and three steals against Rison.

Earlier in the week, Dragon Coach Kendall Hutcheson promoted Jerrodney Tubbs to the varsity roster. The burly 6-2 freshman forward made a splash in his first-ever varsity game, compiling 24 points against Rison. He looked poised while making an instant impact for Junction City.

Tonight, the Dragons should once again feature the offensive abilities of Grayson and Tubbs. That's the easiest way for Junction City to upend a tough Bearden squad.

THEY

SHOULD WIN

Tonight, Smackover will win an entertaining contest over McGehee, claiming the 8-3A District Tournament title. The emotional victory will give the Buckaroos a No.1 seed at the Region 4 Tournament.

The Buckaroos (19-5) have a go-to player in moments when a bucket is needed. Also, they're athletic and have several persons who can score. Most of all, coach David Preston's squad has great cohesion.

Basically, the Buckaroos are a matchup nightmare for a lot of their 3A contemporaries.

(Kev Moyé is a sports writer for the El Dorado News-Times. He can be contacted via e-mail at kevmoye@ yahoo.com)

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