Class 2A basketball preview: Jamal Shorty, England seek repeat.
THREE STORYLINES TO FOLLOW 1. Will England do it again?
Coach Trent Morgan has always praised his team when it comes to preparation. The Lions will have to put in the work again if they’re going to repeat as state champs. England will kick off the season Nov. 19 against Class 3A power Dumas, which will serve as a stiff test.
2. Can Lavaca overcome the loss of so many seniors?
The Golden Arrows had 11 seniors on last season’s roster, which helped the team go undefeated in conference play and win 34 of 39 games overall. Lavaca also reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champion England. It will be interesting to see whether Lavaca can meet the high bar it set last season.
3. Does Bay have another run in it?
Bay has won four state titles since 2011 but hasn’t been to the title game since 2016. The Yellowjackets were 29-9 last season and threw a scare into England in the quarterfinals before losing 57-51. Bay is off to a 1-5 start this season, but three have been close calls. Bay has a key game next week against Marianna.
IMPACT PLAYERS SENIOR TERRAN WILLIAMS, MARIANNA, GUARD
The ultimate “X” factor for a team eager to redeem itself for last season’s disappointing loss to Earle in the semifinals of the state tournament. Williams, who received several offers from schools such as Auburn, Oklahoma State and TCU before committing to Louisiana Tech, can play either guard or forward.
SENIOR JAMAL SHORTY, ENGLAND, GUARD
Shorty is a gifted athlete with a high IQ on the floor. Averaged just over 10 points per game for the Lions, but those numbers should go up considerably after all the production England lost from last season. The senior was an integral piece for England during its recent title run.
JUNIOR RHOLLY DAVIS, EARLE, GUARD The junior is a high-volume scorer who’s not afraid to take the big shot. He flourished during the state tournament earlier this year before cooling off in the championship final. He, along with Donnie Cheers, form one of the top backcourts in Class 2A.
OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON Senior Hykeem Hancock, Barton; Senior Jesse Kinard, Buffalo Island Central; Senior Layton Hennings, Melbourne; Junior Tramillion Henderson, Murfreesboro