Young Badgers need to grow up fast, coach says
Arkadelphia lost four starters to graduation last year. The one starter the team returned is on the football team and will likely be playing in the playoffs. That leaves the young, inexperienced guys who have big shoes to fill across the board. Coach Donald Williams said his lone returning starter, junior Javonte Brown, is one of his best players. The forward is 6 feet 3 inches tall and shoots well from the perimeter. He plays wide receiver on the football team. Williams said Brown has to earn his praise, but alluded that he has the potential to be a special player. “That’s the main thing on my team, is that I lost four starters. Inside players haven’t been established, but I’ve got a post player that might be good,” Williams said. “I can’t give him props right now; he’s gotta earn that.” So much is up in the air for the Badgers that Williams does not want to project too far ahead. One thing is for sure, he expects every game to be a battle, he said. Arkadelphia came away with a 17-12 record last year. With the loss of four starters, some might doubt if that is attainable. Not Williams. “We very well could have a similar record with this blended conference. We only play a few teams in our regular conference, and then we play down,” Williams said. “We play a tough nonconference schedule. I play ’em in the Russellville
tournament and then play ’em in the Lake Hamilton Wolves tournament, and we play in the Fordyce tournament. That’s nine games right there against good opponents. I don’t hang a lot on record right now.” The games to watch for the team are the Malvern rivalry game, the Robinson game and the Fountain Lake game. Williams was emphatic that the Fountain Lake game is an important game to watch. “I plan on all the teams we play to be a challenge. We’ll be playing with young and inexperienced kids,” Williams said. “I feel like everybody we play is good. I can’t just pick one out.” In order to win, the team needs to play fast, be quicker than a year ago. They will also focus on playing good defense, the coach said. “We’ll be quick,” Williams said. “We should be able to play defense, hang our hat on defense this year.” With young players in important roles, it will be important for the Badgers to get in a groove early on in the season. As the players grow together, they can build chemistry for a playoff run, the coach said. “We’re gonna have to grow up early — put it together around tournament time,” Williams said. “I think our football team will go to the playoffs, so it will be awhile before we get [the kids that play football, too.]” Williams said there isn’t just one team on the schedule that is the toughest. He considers every game to be the toughest. “I plan on all the teams we play to be a challenge,” Williams said. “We’ll be playing with young and inexperienced kids. I feel like everybody we play is good. I can’t just pick one out.” The Badgers have a lot of talent, but will it translate into a repeat of last year’s success? It remains to be seen.