I recently had the chance to communicate with head boys’ basketball coach Charley Clark concerning the current basketball season. We discussed what has transpired and what to expect in the coming weeks.
The first question I shot at the coach was: “The ’Hawks play every year in the Arvest Hoopfest in Rogers, which is made up of mostly 7A-size schools as well as an occasional 5A or 6A team. Pea Ridge is the only 4A team or smaller that ever plays in the tournament. Why do you play there?”
Clark: “Playing in the Arvest Hoopfest is always a fun time of the year. We don’t have far to travel to play against some pretty talented teams. The Waynesville (Mo.) game was tough, as they were so athletic. We shot poorly as far as percentages go, but that tends to happen when a team can block 12-15 of your shots. I felt like the boys played hard and defended well, but just didn’t get it done offensively. Playing against Hot Springs was great as they pressed us realhard. It was nice because it gave up an opportunity to practice against that style of play, and of course it was even nicer when we won.
Ft. Smith Southside, on the other hand, presented a challenge to us in the front court. Isaac (Mangrum) and the guards did a great job of attacking inside-out which led to a lot of wide open shots. We were able to hit those to put that game out of reach in the third quarter. Playing in the three-day, three-game tournament made us stronger. Playing the best teams we can early on will only make us a better team later on.”
Question: “The first week of the conference schedule is over and you are 2-0. You played, in many sport writers’ opinions, the league’s “best” team in the Gravette Lions in the season opener, which you won by a comfortable margin.
You then came home and defeated Lincoln by about the same margin. Your thoughts?”
Clark: “Conference games are always harder to close out than non-conference ones, especially road games. I was very pleased with our ability to not only gain, but maintain a comfortable lead throughout the fourth quarter against Gravette. Road wins are always important. In the Lincoln contest, I think we lacked the energy to start the game, and that we didn’t play up to our abilities. It was a valuable lesson to learn and hopefully learn from in the future.”
Question: “How important is the Bentonville game coming up this Friday?”
Clark: “Well, it’s just another quality non-conference opponent, a chance for us to improve against a very good basketball team. We’re not focusing on Bentonville, though, as we really only need to think about our next opponent which will be Gentry over on their floor.”
Question: “How are the players progressing to date ?”
Clark: “ They have all been working hard and I have been very pleased with the teamwork that this group is showing. Jacob Hall has been, and will likely be, our leading scorer, but the key is that he understands that everyone on our team can score. Our biggest asset has been our ability to move the ball. I would like to think that we ca continue to improve on our rebounding.”
Question: I think that your 9-1 start is the best start that your team has gotten off to in your tenure as head coach. Has it?”
Clark: “I don’t really know if the start this year is the best. I do know that we have a lot of really good players put on the black and white over the past 7 years.
I’m always more concerned and focused on what’s now.”
Question: “Do you have any thoughts or predictions on the conference race this year? Gravette has been considered the favorite by a lot of folks, and Berryville has most of their real good team of a year ago.”
Clark: “This is going tobe a tough year. Most of the teams in the league have been doing well in non-conference games. Most of the teams have most of their team back from last year and the talent level is fairly even at least in the upper half of the league. It would be hard to pick a team out right now, and say it is better than the rest.”
Last question: “You have been seeded third in the annual Southwest Tournament which starts right after Christmas. I believe you have won the championship every year you have been here until last season.
Billings (Mo.) has been seeded first, Hollister (Mo.) second, the Blackhawks third for this year’s battle.
I read that Billings is 8-0, averaging right at 80 points per game and grabbing 35 rebounds a game.”
Clark: “The Southwest Holiday Tournament is a great Pea Ridge tradition.
We have always had a lot offun there. The seeds are really more of an indication of what the teams did last year, although the start of this season had some impact as well. We will be playing Cassville as the No. 3 seed and I don’t have a problem with that. If we win, we likely will be playing Hollister next in the semi-finals.”
4A&1 CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Pea Ridge (2-0)
Farmington (2-0)
Gravette (1-1)
Berryville (1-1)
Ozark (1-1)
Lincoln (1-1)
Gentry (0-2)
Prairie Grove (0-2)
Editor’s note: John McGee is an award-winning columnist and sports writer. He is the art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, coaches elementary track and writes a regular sports column for The Times. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].
Sports, Pages 7 on 12/19/2012