Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils Expect To Be Force

With football season over in Gurdon, it's time for sports fans to turn their attention indoors.

Basketball season is underway for the Go-Devil squads, though many of those who played football won't be hitting the hardwood until they recuperate from their gridiron battles.

Still, Coach John Ware said the Devils will be a force to contend with during the 1999- 2000 basketball season.

RaShaun Hopson, Cameron Rinehart, Eric Anderson, Chris Thompson and Brannon Hatley are back from last year's regional team.

However, Ware said Hopson is the only one with much playing time and his is a young squad.

At this point, he said, none have handled the ball in a game situation when they're under pressure.

"We have a lot of questions to answer this year," Ware said, "but we'll have a good team."

This group, he said, is outstanding as far as their character. "I enjoy coming to the gym and working with them," he said. "These are kids you can trust, depend on and I don't mind taking them places to play."

Now, the Devils are working to hone their basketball skills, but have to put their game together.

Ware said his team will be competitive this season and winning and losing will take care of itself. "We don't always have control over winning and losing, but we'll get after it and if it's enough we'll win and if it isn't we won't."

The players, he continued, give it all they have in practice and are ready to try their hand against someone else. "They leave nothing to be desired on effort," he said.

He added the team has some shooters.

However, it will take Hopson and Hatley a while to get ready as both took beatings during the football season and need some time to heal.

They also have to get in basketball shape, he said, as it requires different muscle use than football.

Speed isn't a problem, but Ware said basketball speed and football speed are two different things.

Historically, though, Ware's Devils have burned the court with their quick bursts up and down the hardwood on the transition from offense to defense, or vice versa.

This squad will be heavily laden with sophomores as there are four seniors and two juniors.

The seniors will be asked to provide leadership for the younger players, though all are expected to contribute during the campaign.

Ware said the team will use whatever defense it can that works and will "try to score on offense."

This year's offense may work at a slower pace than in years past, as Ware said the team will do what it takes to win.

During the pre-season drills, the team has worked on fundamentals and a man-to-man defense. The zone defense hasn't been installed yet, Ware said.

Once again, the Roadrunners of Stephens will be the team to beat in the 7AA-Central, with Gurdon to be in the running as well.

The Devils will be playing catch up with other divisional teams as they don't play football and have been on the court since school started.

Blevins, Ware said, has one of the best players in this part of the state, while Genoa Central has a new coach and plenty of returning talent.

Lewisville, he said, gave the Devils more trouble than just about any other conference team last season and Nevada's Blue Jays will have plenty of games under their belt when Gurdon first meets them.

Stephens is the state runner up and returns a ton of talent and speed. Ware said the Roadrunners are expected to win it all this year and would be surprised if they don't.

But, the Devils will do everything possible to upset the apple cart and take Stephens out of the state title hunt.

Though the Devils will be young, Ware isn't worried. He said there will be no problem in counting on the sophomore players, with just about everyone on the team expected to get minutes on the court.

The game, he said, isn't about who starts, but who gets in the most minutes of play.

Gurdon has set its schedule to get tournaments out of the way early so the Devils can concentrate on what's really important the conference race.

The Devils will host the Gurdon Classic the second week of December with six teams invited. They will also participate in the Fouke tourney as well as the Southwest Arkansas Invitational at Saratoga the first of the year.

However, Ware said the basketball program is currently in need of sponsors to help buy backstop pads for the gym, as well as a trophy case.

Both are needed with the style of basketball the Devils play. The trophy case, though, should be a large one as Gurdon is expected to add more hardware to it.