AUGUSTA RED DEVILS

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
October 25, 2009

LITTLE ROCK — BOYS Conference: 2A-6 Coach: Roy Daniels, first year as head coach at Augusta Assistant coaches: Ricky Everett Last year’s record: 15-15, fourth place in conference, second in district tournament and lost in the first round of the regional tournament Returning starters: 5-10 senior guard Jordan Porter returns after leading Augusta in scoring with an average of 17 points a game last season. Daniels said Porter is a good ballhandler and shooter who also averaged five assists and three steals a game. 6-1 junior point guard Darnell Gant averaged about eight points, six rebounds and five assists a game last season. 6-3 senior postMatt Bowen also is back.

Best inside players: Bowen returns on the inside, along with Emmanuel Snow, a 6-3 junior who averaged about 10 points and seven rebounds a game last season. Daniels said Snow came on late last season and also can play out on the floor. 6-5 senior Rochiem Lacy is a solid rebounder and defender. 6-3 sophomore Tim Finley provides depth on the inside.

Best outside players: Porter and Gant will handle the guard duties. Ralph Cauley, a 6-3 junior, has transferred in from Texas and Daniels says Cauley could be Augusta’s best player.

In a nutshell: Augusta will be deep and athletic. Adding Cauley to the mix along with the returning players could help Augusta make a run in the postseason.

GIRLS Conference: 2A-6 Coach: Brittany Reinbolt Assistant coach: Susan Phillips Last year’s record: 19-8, conference champion and lost in first round of regionals Returning starters: None Best inside players: 5-9 junior center Crystal Johnson will be Augusta’s top inside threat Best outside players: Augusta has a quartet of senior guards: Asia Nevels, Chrishawna Kendall, Shonte Biggers and LaMeshia Wynick.

How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year? “I don’t like comparing this team to last year’s team,” Reinbolt said. “We have a new coaching staff and all new starters so we are going to be doing things a little different. However, last year’s team did not make it to state. This year,

we have set a team goal of making it to the

state tournament. Since day one we have been

talking about dreaming big and believing in

those dreams, so with a lot of hard work and

determination I believe we can make it to the

state tournament.”

Strengths of team: “We are going to increase

the tempo of the game and challenge our op

ponents to keep up with us,” Reinbolt said.

Weaknesses of team: Inexperience

Toughest opponent: “I have heard the team

talking about Hughes and their speed,” Re

inbolt said. “However, this year we are doing

a lot of speed training, so we should be the

fastest team on the court.”

In a nutshell: “I am thrilled to be coaching

this great group of student-athletes,” Reinbolt

said. “Our preseason training is going great,

and although we still have a lot to work on,

we should have an awesome season.”RED DEVILS SCHEDULE Nov. 20 ......................... @ Arkansas Baptist Nov. 23 ..........@ Izard County Consolidated Dec. 1 .........................................@ Marvell Dec. 4 .............................................Carlisle Dec. 8 .............................Palestine-Wheatley Dec. 11 ...................................... @ Des Arc Dec. 14 ...................................... Clarendon Dec. 15 ....................................... @ Hughes Jan. 8 ...........................................McCrory Jan. 12 ........................................ @ Hazen Jan. 15 ...........................................Marvell Jan. 19 ....................................... @ Carlisle Jan. 22 .......................@ Palestine-Wheatley Jan. 26 .......................................... Des Arc Jan. 29 ...................................@ Clarendon Feb. 2 .............................................Hughes Feb. 5 .............................................. Barton Feb. 8 .......................................@ McCrory Feb. 9 ............................................... Hazen

Three Rivers, Pages 168 on 10/25/2009