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The Daily Dispatch
Winter Sports
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Strength, conditioning focus for Webb hoops By ERIC S. ROBINSON Dispatch Sports Editor
With a combination of returning players and new faces, this year’s J.F. Webb boys’ hoops team may be looking to some youngsters. “This is probably one of our better freshman classes that I’ve had since I’ve been here in five years,” said Warriors coach Leo Brunelli. “I’m real excited.” Last year, Webb finished last in the Carolina 3A Conference. Brunelli noted that the Warriors were the only team that didn’t hold at least a share of the conference lead at some point during the 2009-10 season. One major factor in how they finished, Brunelli feels, was strength and conditioning. “We’ve put a lot emphasis into the preseason. We lifted two days a week and conditioned three days a week,” he said. “We just weren’t physically there, strong enough (last year).” “We put a big emphasis in it and hopefully we’re going to see some results once the season starts.” Football’s success put the basketball team a week behind schedule. The Warrior football team advanced one round into the playoffs. “We kind of had a staggered start. We had a couple in cross country, we had soccer go to the playoffs, so it’s been almost a
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J.F. Webb head coach Leo Brunelli reacts to a call in this February file photo. typical Webb basketball preseason,” said Brunelli. Between now and the season’s start, the team’s focus is just to improve. “The big thing right now is we’ve got to get better each day at practice. That’s been our goal. Let’s get just a little better, bring that intensity up just a little bit.” “We want efficient work and we’re working hard. I’m real proud of the guys.” The Warriors will likely look to returning All-Conference player Darquis Thomas for leadership, but Brunelli said the production may be “by committee.” “I think we can be a little bit deeper this year than in the past, and that’s something that will help especially pick up the
tempo and play a little bit more the type of style defensively that I like to play.” Regarding his team’s place in the competitive conference, Brunelli feels his team may have what it takes to fight its way near the top, but has a lot of work to do. “I think all the teams had a pretty good senior class, so it makes it interesting. I think definitely we’re at the bottom looking up. Our conference is very talented, but with that being said, I think we can work our way somewhere up near the top. No question.” “I’m excited. I think if they continue to work, we’ll be set to go.” Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Contact the writer at erobinson@ hendersondispatch.com.
J.F. Webb's Darquis Thomas is fouled while shooting a jumper against Northern Vance in this February file photo.
Young Lady Warriors will look to senior Hobgood By ERIC S. ROBINSON Dispatch Sports Editor
J.F. Webb’s girls’ hoops team will face an early challenge this year. The Warriors have just one returning starter to open the season. Standout senior Tyler Hobgood will look to carry a lot of the load with young and inexperienced players around her. Overall, six Lady Warriors were lost to graduation, and coach Kenneth Rogers needs his team to learn quickly. “It’s going to be a very young team and an inexperienced team, but I’m hoping with the commitment over the summer that we’ll continue to get old quick,” said Rogers. “We don’t have time to waste right now. We’ve just got to practice a lot and try to get smarter as the year goes on.” Webb didn’t have a junior varsity team last year, but will this season. Rogers hopes that will help build the program for the future, but for now, he’s just trying to get the right combination on the floor. “We’re still trying to feel the right chemistry. It’s very difficult to feel the right chemistry when you’ve got so many new players,” he said. “I think we’ve got some key play-
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J.F. Webb's Tyler Hobgood shoots the ball after drop-stepping around Southern Vance's Tremanisha Taylor in this February file photo. ers that don’t have a lot of experience, but they’re playing pretty good basketball right now, so we’ve got some girls learning quickly.” Hobgood, the team’s lone returning senior and a University
of Miami signee, will provide the post presence. Hobgood has been a dominant presence underneath on both sides of the ball. “Tyler is one of the best players in the state when she’s on the
court playing basketball, and her skill level is not matched by many teams. Therefore, I feel like she’ll be doubled and tripled at times during the season,” said Rogers. “She has to maintain her composure and just play smart basketball. She’s got to let the game come to her, and I think if Tyler doesn’t try to do too many things that she’ll be okay.” Rogers feels Hobgood needs to embrace a leadership role on and off the court, and remain patient with the younger players. “If Tyler would be patient, and if Tyler tried to take a leadership role, I think that will help us tremendously.” Janae Carroll is expected to run the point this year. Rogers hopes her outside-shooting ability will spread the defense and free things up for Hobgood at the post. Carroll had some experience at point last season. Rogers called her an unselfish player with good ballhandling skills. “...I think that’s the best thing I like about Janae — that she loves the game,” said Rogers. “She doesn’t mind working hard. She comes to practice and she’s one of those players who’s committed to the game.” Rogers said Delacee Cooper
brings a lot of speed to the court. She can shoot the outside shot, he said, but he is hoping her speed and athleticism will be beneficial on the defensive side. Freshman Starr Jones is a skilled player with good ballhandling skills and perimeter play, but needs experience, Rogers said. Laquasha Terry is small in stature, but can hustle up and down the court and dictate the speed of the game. Rogers said Orange may be the team to beat this year in the Carolina 3A Conference. The Panthers return a lot of experience. The coach said Gibbons may be in the hunt as well as Southern Vance. Rogers feels that, with all the inexperience, his team is in a different situation in the preseason. “With us being so young, this will be — for the first time in a long time — we’re not the favorites. I don’t feel like we should have that honor as far as being a top team,” he said. “I think we’ll get better during the season. That’s the main thing — improving for us right now.” “We just have to continue making progress each practice and each game.” Contact the writer at erobinson@hendersondispatch.com.
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