Rebels rely on depth and experience, new-look Lady Rebels begin district title defense

By MATT KING\Daily Journal Sports Writer

PARK HILLS - The Central boys basketball program made admirable progress from a three-win season in 2002-03 to a 13-14 campaign last year, falling just one win shy of a district title. The Rebels have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about taking another step forward this year.

Former Central basketball standout Zack Mills is taking over the reigns at his alma mater after serving as an assistant to Greg Noble for the past few seasons. Mills is excited about making the transition.

"This is everything I've ever wanted to do," stated Mills. "The timing of the job opening and the opportunity to coach here could not have been any better for me."

There is plenty of returning firepower from last year, giving the Rebels the most experienced starting lineup in the MAAA Large-School division. The players should benefit from it when learning their new coach's system. The addition of several talented juniors and sophomores gives Central an abundance of team depth, which Mills believes is one of his club's greatest strengths.

"We will play a faster game this year," said Mills. "We are going to push the ball on offense, and take what the defense gives us. With our depth, we can also keep our defensive pressure up."

The Rebels have a reliable rotation of at least five players who will see playing time near the basket. Brice Boren will be a key source of rebounding and inside scoring, while his twin brother Brock Boren poses an inside-outside threat with his ability to score from the perimeter.

Senior Josh Carlyon and juniors Corey Beard and Dustin Jones will also see increased action in the post. Senior Grayson Clark adds height to the interior, along with a solid mid-range shot.

The guards not only possess the quickness to create shots off the dribble, but they should also give the Rebels some needed long-range shooting help. Senior Keith Huff will pace the offense again as the starting point guard. Expect junior Ryan McFarland to also handle the ball, while senior Matt Watkins fills in at a guard position.

A strong start to the season could rest on the ability of the returners and newcomers to become familiar with each other in game situations. Good shot selection and limited mistakes should make the Rebels competitive every night in both conference and district play.

"If these kids continue competing as hard as they have so far, then it will be a successful season," added Mills.

The Rebels open the season by competing in the Arcadia Valley Thanksgiving Tournament. Central will play Lesterville in the opening round on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Central Lady Rebels are also adjusting to several personnel changes, beginning at the top with a new coach. Craig Allen takes over the program after spending the past three seasons as an assistant at Fredericktown.

Central posted a subpar 10-16 overall record last season, but did manage to finish strong and claim a district title. More than 80 percent of the team's total scoring left with the graduation of six seniors, but Allen is confident that this new-look team will carry on just fine.

"We are working to be more physically fit this year," said Allen. "We definitely think that we're better than a .500 team."

The Lady Rebels have a nice blend of balanced height up front with athletic guards in the backcourt. The incoming players from last year's junior varsity squad supply Central with good depth from the bench.

"We should go at least 10 or 11 deep," stated Allen. "I may feel comfortable substituting five players at one time. I don't think that too many coaches can say that."

The lone returning starter to the Central lineup is Jessica Moyer, who will provide added strength inside as she moves to the center position. Moyer will be joined in the starting front-court by a pair of strong rebounders, Allison Douglas and Kristina Holloway. Douglas has good instincts to find the loose ball, while Holloway relies on her strong vertical leap.

Guards Tausha Petty and Courtney Hammers complete the all-senior starting lineup. Petty has improved her ball-handling skills enough to earn the nod at the point. Hammers will be called upon to score from the perimeter if opposing defenses overplay near the basket.

The Central bench can be utilized at any time with solid replacements to fill any spot on the floor. Junior Lindsey Harris will give the Lady Rebels more height in the paint. Katie Hammers can play the small forward or shooting guard spots. Jessica Lawson will contribute with her defensive intensity.

Two sophomores add depth to the backcourt. Chelsea Pinson can bring the ball upcourt, and has speed to burn. Jessica Davis has shown confidence in her shot with each practice according to Coach Allen.

In the past, the Lady Rebels have usually operated at a methodical pace. The increase in depth and speed should allow them to press more on defense, which could lead to some important transition baskets. To compete in the upper echelon of the MAAA Large-School division, Central must be aggressive on the court, but make smart decisions at the same time to avoid turnovers.