Rebels look to upstart youth to replace 8 seniors

Last year’s record doesn’t tell the whole story for Sacred Heart. The 17-22 record was below .500, but the team hit a stride at the end of the year with two great games in the postseason. The Rebels beat Mount Vernon-Enola in the district tournament and upset Concord in the first round of the regional tournament, although their run ended against Mineral Springs in the first round of the state tourney. The Rebels graduated eight seniors and look for sophomores Luke Hartman and Qualyn James to continue to develop into nice players, coach Aaron Duvall said. He thinks the two could develop into college prospects based on early returns. Juniors Landon Whorton and Cody Jones anchor the core group of returning players, giving the Rebels a good nucleus to build around, the coach said. Consistency will be key for the team to survive a very difficult 1A-5 North Conference that includes defending state champions Guy-Perkins, along with Marvell, Mount Vernon-Enola, Wonderview and Nemo Vista. The team should be well-suited to improve from a year ago, Duvall said. “We have a nice mix of inside-out guys,” he said. “We have some posts who can score inside and guards who can shoot. We’re also a team that plays extremely hard. We have good depth at the guard position and have some scorers. There is also length at the guard spot, which should lead to steals and fast break opportunities.” Despite their talent, the Rebels could struggle in a few areas, the coach said. “Our biggest weaknesses are depth at post and defensive speed,” Duvall said. “While we have strong posts, there aren’t many guys who can come off the bench and play inside. The other possible issue is defensive speed and keeping quick perimeter players out of the lane.” The Rebels have good balance, whether young and old, experienced and new, inside and out. The key will be to find the right combinations and to find ways to stay consistent on defense, the coach said. There is enough offense to win games, but the level of competition in the conference could make things tough when the postseason rolls around. If all goes well, the Rebels could compete for a spot in the regional tournament and may be able to take the next step in the state tournament, Duvall said.