New Mustangs coach: Team will play hard, smart
DION HARGROVE PERRYVILLE BOYS COACH
Dion Hargrove is in his first year as coach of the Perryville Mustangs, but he’s starting his 28th year in the profession, so he brings experience to the team. The Marshall native’s career includes serving as a graduate assistant at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway under former Sugar Bears coach Ronnie Marvel and coaching the Viola boys basketball and baseball teams to state championships in 2002. After stints in other school districts, Hargrove spent eight years at Flippin High School before taking the position in Perryville vacated by Donnie Smith, who left to become coach of the Green Forest Tigers. The Mustangs were 20-11 last year and made it to the regional tournament, where they lost to Charleston 84-74. Hargrove will be assisted this season by Troy Denn. “We’re still trying to learn everyone; they’re trying to learn me,” Hargrove said. “All of them are trying to adjust to a different system.” He likes what he sees so far in his players, the coach said. Eight seniors will play, including River Valley & Ozark Edition Player to Watch Chandler Roland. The 6-0 senior averaged 19.5 points per game, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season. “He’s had a good preseason for us,” Hargrove said. “He’s really worked on his defensive skills and ball-handling skills.” Joining Roland are seniors Garrison Branscum, 6-2, who is a similar player to Roland, the coach said. “He’s been injured; he broke a bone in his hand. It’s in a cast, but
he should be ready for the season. He’s very athletic; he’s going to be a nice player for us.” Drake Henderson is a 6-4 post player. “Hopefully, he gives us inside presence,” Hargrove said. The 6-0 Brock Johnson “had a good preseason, worked hard for us.” Jonathan Lang is a 6-0 guard, an athletic young man who also plays football as a receiver. “He’s having a good year,” Hargrove said. Trent Wilson is a lanky 6-1, Hargrove said, and also athletic. “I think he’s going to have a good year for us.” Dayne Threadgill, a 6-1 post player “has worked really hard. Hopefully, he’ll have a chance to get some minutes for us; he’s a rebounder.” Rounding out the seniors is exchange student Henrique Carobolante-Parro of Brazil, 6-3. Hargrove is counting on several juniors to contribute, too, including Koby Thomas, a 6-0 guard. “He’ll have a chance to be a good player for us,” Hargrove said. The other juniors are Eddie Jeffs, a 5-11 guard who is a shooter; Mason Thessing, a 6-0 guard; Dawson Bullock, 6-3; Malik Craton, 6-2, a 3-4 post guy; Steven Shannon, a 6-2 post player; and Landon Walker, 6-3, who is the quarterback on the football team. All the district games are important, Hargrove said. “They all go back to the seeding for the district tour and, hopefully, for the regional tournament,” he said. The challenge for the team is “learning how to play together, and them adjusting to me,” the coach said. “I think everyone does things differently. “We just want to play hard, play smart and play together. That’s kind of our goal. We want to try to improve each day and see where that takes us at the end of the year.”