GUY-PERKINS THUNDERBIRDS

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
October 25, 2009

LITTLE ROCK — BOYS Conference: 1A-5 North Coach: John Hutchcraft, 1,641-384 in 33rd season, 31st at Guy-Perkins, senior boys and girls Assistant coach: None Last year’s record: 31-9, runner-up in conference and district and regional tournaments, Class 1A state champion Returning starters: None Best inside players: Denell Henderson, 6-4 junior; Alex Davis, 6-3 junior; Will Ward, 6-3 junior Best outside players: Brian Hooten, 6-3 junior; Bradley Halbrook, 6-3 junior; Tony Maltbia, 5-7 senior; Brandon Rooney, 5-6 junior How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year? The T-Birds graduated five starters and two substitutes off last year’s state championship team, but Hutchcraft saidthis wouldn’t be the classic rebuilding year. “I played a lot of boys last year, and this group is going to be outstanding,” he said. “It’s a rebuilding year in a way of speaking, but I’m expecting us to be really strong.” Strengths of team: “We have size,” Hutchcraft said. “We’re a pretty good-sized high school team. We’ve got quite a bit of quickness, good shooters, and we have seven good players, so our bench is strong.” Weaknesses of team: Hutchcraft said he couldn’t think of one. “We graduated so much, but most people who have seen us knew we had a second bunch that got a lot of experience last year,” he said. “We played about 10, so these boys have experience. It’s a little different than having a new group.” Games to watch: St. Joseph, the defending Class 2A state champion, is on the schedule twice. Mount Vernon-Enola, which the TBirds struggled with last year, will also be a marquis matchup.

GIRLS Conference: 1A-5 North Coach: John Hutchcraft, 1,641-384 in 33rd season, 31st at Guy-Perkins, senior boys and girls Assistant coach: None Last year’s record: 17-15, runner-up in conference and district, lost in first round of regional Returning starters: Lainie Lagasse, 5-6 junior guard; Allyson McClusky, 5-4 senior guard; Brooklyn Hartwick, 5-4 junior guard; Amy Smith, 5-7 senior post Best inside players: Besides Smith, the Lady T-Birds will look to Christian Ward, a 5-7 senior, and Tori McLaughlin, a 5-8 sophomore, inside.

Best outside players: Lagasse is Guy’s goto player, Hutchcraft said, but she’ll have help from McClusky and Hartwick as well as Lyndsi McGhee, a 5-5 sophomore whomoved up and played quite a bit during the district and regional tournaments last year, and Cari Beth Halk, a 5-4 freshman who will move up to the senior high team.

How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year? The Lady TBirds had just seven players last year, and they’ve more than doubled that to 15 this season. “We’ve got more potential starters this year and more experience with those four returning starters,” Hutchcraft said.

Strengths of team: Hutchcraft said his team’s outside shooting was good. “And we have quite a bit of quickness with all the guards,” he said.

Weaknesses of team: Size. “We really could use a tall post girl,” Hutchcraft said.

Toughest opponent: Hutchcraft pointed to several, including Kingston, Mount Vernon-Enola, Conway St. Joseph, Mountain View, Yellville-Summit, Little Rock Fair, Quitman and Marmaduke. “We really have a stronger schedule this year,” he said.

THUNDERBIRDS SCHEDULEOct. 20 ..................... West Side Greers Ferry Oct. 23 ........................... Conway St. Joseph Oct. 27 .......................................... Scranton Oct. 30 ....................................Sacred Heart Nov. 13 ............................... @ Rural Special Dec. 3 ................................@ Yellville-Summit Dec. 8 ................................. @ Abundant Life Dec. 15 ....................................... @ J.A. Fair Dec. 18 ................................ Mountain View Jan. 7 ......................................Lisa Academy Jan. 8 ..........................................Kipp (Boys) Jan. 11 ..................... @ Mount Vernon-Enola

Jan. 14 ................. @ South Side Bee Branch

Jan. 15 ....................................@ Kipp (Boys)

Jan. 19 ......................... Pine Bluff St. Joseph

Jan. 22 ................................Academics Plus

Jan. 26 ................................ @ Lisa Academy

Jan. 28 ........................... Mount Vernon-Enola

Jan. 29 ........................................ @ Kingston

Feb. 2 ........................ South Side Bee Branch

Feb. 5 .........................@ Pine Bluff St. Joseph

Feb. 9 ............................. Conway St. Joseph

Feb. 12 ................................ @ Sacred Heart

River Valley Ozark, Pages 222 on 10/25/2009