Inexperienced Panthers looking to make a push

Competition among members of the Heber Springs boys basketball team may prove vital this offseason, as many will be vying for a starting role. With just one returning starter from a team that finished 10-17 last year, Heber Springs will have many spots to fill. “We will have lots of new players who are hungry to get playing time,” head coach Jay Moore said. Moore said that since the first day of school, Heber Springs has gained a few extra players who didn’t play with the team during summer workouts, including a couple of foreign-exchange students. “We don’t have very much experience, and we are going to have to work on our offense and defense by trying a lot of different combinations,” Moore said. “We are going to be inexperienced, so we will work on shooting, offense and defense — everything.” Junior guard Brandon Blankenship, who averaged 6 points per game as a sophomore, is the lone starter coming back. “His ability to be vocal and communicate on defense and his effort on defense are why he was chosen to be a starter last year,” Moore said. “He has good communication and is a good scorer.” Possible starters for Heber Springs include senior forward Jacob Bremmon, junior forward Brady Adkins and sophomore guard Adam Martin. “Adam is our best option at point guard,” Moore said. “He is a very good ball handler and a good rebounder. “Brady will contribute inside and outside and look to score a lot more this year than he did last year.” Other players competing for a spot include senior guard Gage Glover, junior forward Trevor Torres and sophomore Trent Barnes. “[Trent and Trevor] are very active and athletic,” Moore said. “They are good rebounders and good defenders.” Games to watch this season include the matches against Southside Batesville, Rose Bud and Riverview, the coach said. “Our toughest opponent should be Southside Batesville,” Moore said. “They will be a state contender.” Heber Springs’ first game is scheduled for Nov. 9 at Pangburn. “We’ve been playing more zone recently, and because of our lack of depth, our sophomores have been playing man to man,” Moore said. “From an offensive standpoint, we space guys out with a five-out motion. “If the timing is right, we will press when we can and be more of a zone threat.” Despite his team’s inexperience, Moore is excited for the future of the program, he said. “We will need to play together and as a team all year long,” Moore said. “We will have guys who love to work hard and like playing with each other. “We will look to improve each week and put it all together come February and make a push for the regional tournament in March.”