11-27-2011, 11:48 AM
Bryan Station
Coach: Mike Allen, second year
Last season: 14-14 (lost to Scott County in district)
Top players: Larry Morton (6-3 jr.), Marcus Williams (6-2 sr.), Tyler Smith (6-3 jr.), Matthew Hunter (6-0 jr.), Jordan Henry (6-0 so.), Marcellous Washington (6-0 so.), Daiquice Allen (6-2 so.), Omari Sweat (6-3 sr.), Darius Waide (6-0 sr.)
Outlook: Allen said his players had to "learn on the fly" in his first year as coach. He expects the still-young Defenders to be more familiar with his style and discipline this season, and that should translate into more wins.
Morton and Williams are returning starters. Morton (14 ppg, 5 rpg), whom Allen considers a solid college prospect, is still shedding the AAU hoops mentality. "Larry is finding out his game is more than scoring and making plays for himself. He's learning to play not just with the ball, and learning to make his teammates better," Allen said. Williams (7 ppg, 6 rpg) showed his potential last year. "When his head is right, he's one of the best players in the 11th Region," Allen said. "The kid can really play."
Smith will be the (under-sized) man inside. "He's a great rebounder and weak-side defender, runs the floor hard, and keeps those 50-50 balls alive," Allen said. Hunter will stretch the defense with his shooting. Allen is high on sophomores Allen, Henry and Washington. "They could be really good, and they'll have the opportunity to show it because we'll play them a lot," he said. Waide, a veteran point guard, is trying to get his academics in order. Jaylen Beckham, a former standout at Lexington Catholic, spent last season at schools in New Jersey and West Virginia. Allen said there's a chance Beckham could be eligible in January.
DEFENDERS' SCHEDULE
Dec. 1âWoodford Co. in Mr. Basketball Classic at Tates Creek, TBA; 2âPulaski Co. in Mr. Basketball Classic at Tates Creek, 8:15; 6âat Henry Clay, 8; 9âat Tates Creek, 8; 10âvs. Cincinnati Princeton at Newport, 8:15; 15âat Paul Dunbar, 8; 19-22âiHigh Fayette County Invitational; 28âvs. Male in Gatewood Holiday Classic at Montgomery Co.
Jan. 3âLafayette, 8; 8âClinton Co. in Kentucky Showdown in Rupp Arena, noon; 10âat Madison Central, 8; 13âat Scott Co., 7:30; 14âvs. Owensboro in S.T. Roach Classic at Dunbar, 3; 18âHenry Clay, 8; 20âat Butler, 8; 21âBreathitt County in Al Prewitt Classic at Henry Clay, 3:30; 23âMontgomery Co., 7:30; 27âDunbar 8; 30âat Sayre, 7:30
Feb. 1âScott Co., 7:30; 3âFranklin Co., 7:30; 4âat LCA in Central Bank Classic, 7:30; 7âat Lafayette, 8; 9âTates Creek, 8; 17âElizabethtown, 7:30
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/27/19744...z1ev0lbgdp
Coach: Mike Allen, second year
Last season: 14-14 (lost to Scott County in district)
Top players: Larry Morton (6-3 jr.), Marcus Williams (6-2 sr.), Tyler Smith (6-3 jr.), Matthew Hunter (6-0 jr.), Jordan Henry (6-0 so.), Marcellous Washington (6-0 so.), Daiquice Allen (6-2 so.), Omari Sweat (6-3 sr.), Darius Waide (6-0 sr.)
Outlook: Allen said his players had to "learn on the fly" in his first year as coach. He expects the still-young Defenders to be more familiar with his style and discipline this season, and that should translate into more wins.
Morton and Williams are returning starters. Morton (14 ppg, 5 rpg), whom Allen considers a solid college prospect, is still shedding the AAU hoops mentality. "Larry is finding out his game is more than scoring and making plays for himself. He's learning to play not just with the ball, and learning to make his teammates better," Allen said. Williams (7 ppg, 6 rpg) showed his potential last year. "When his head is right, he's one of the best players in the 11th Region," Allen said. "The kid can really play."
Smith will be the (under-sized) man inside. "He's a great rebounder and weak-side defender, runs the floor hard, and keeps those 50-50 balls alive," Allen said. Hunter will stretch the defense with his shooting. Allen is high on sophomores Allen, Henry and Washington. "They could be really good, and they'll have the opportunity to show it because we'll play them a lot," he said. Waide, a veteran point guard, is trying to get his academics in order. Jaylen Beckham, a former standout at Lexington Catholic, spent last season at schools in New Jersey and West Virginia. Allen said there's a chance Beckham could be eligible in January.
DEFENDERS' SCHEDULE
Dec. 1âWoodford Co. in Mr. Basketball Classic at Tates Creek, TBA; 2âPulaski Co. in Mr. Basketball Classic at Tates Creek, 8:15; 6âat Henry Clay, 8; 9âat Tates Creek, 8; 10âvs. Cincinnati Princeton at Newport, 8:15; 15âat Paul Dunbar, 8; 19-22âiHigh Fayette County Invitational; 28âvs. Male in Gatewood Holiday Classic at Montgomery Co.
Jan. 3âLafayette, 8; 8âClinton Co. in Kentucky Showdown in Rupp Arena, noon; 10âat Madison Central, 8; 13âat Scott Co., 7:30; 14âvs. Owensboro in S.T. Roach Classic at Dunbar, 3; 18âHenry Clay, 8; 20âat Butler, 8; 21âBreathitt County in Al Prewitt Classic at Henry Clay, 3:30; 23âMontgomery Co., 7:30; 27âDunbar 8; 30âat Sayre, 7:30
Feb. 1âScott Co., 7:30; 3âFranklin Co., 7:30; 4âat LCA in Central Bank Classic, 7:30; 7âat Lafayette, 8; 9âTates Creek, 8; 17âElizabethtown, 7:30
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/27/19744...z1ev0lbgdp