Bulldogs to replace size with speed, athleticism

The Quitman Bulldogs won the 2A-4 East District championship last year, finished runner-up in the Class 2A West/Central Regional and advanced to the Class 2A State Tournament. Although they move to the 2A-5 North with the Arkansas Activities Association’s reclassification cycle, the Bulldogs hope to return to the state tournament in 2019. “We know that we are a good enough team to once again make state, but we also know how easily that can be taken for granted and lost,” said coach Brandon Burgener, who starts his third season atop the Bulldog program. “We lost a lot of size from last year’s team, but I feel we’ll make up for it with our speed and athleticism this year.” The Bulldogs went through the conference 14-4 last season and finished 25-12 after their first-round state-tournament loss to Marked Tree, 53-42. Returning starters include 6-1 senior forward Isaac Clemmons, 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season; and 5-10 junior point guard Zac Shue, 12.3 points and 4 assists. “Isaac will have big shoes to fill since we lost our 6-6 center, but he is a great rebounder, and though he is only 6-1, he loves to do the dirty work,” Burgener said. “He’s one of the toughest kids I’ve coached and is a defensive-minded guy like me. “Zac has range unlike any other kid in our conference that I’ve seen. His 3-point percentage last season was 47 percent, so he is always a threat to score from outside. He can also put the ball on the floor and attack the rim, something he has really worked at in the offseason.” Senior Brandon Blankenship, a transfer from Heber Springs, will also help inside, the coach said. “He is strong mentally and physically,” Burgener said. “He loves to rebound and be physical with anyone.” Several others will help Shue outside. Ethan Brantley, a 6-0 transfer from Mount Vernon-Enola, has a “very quick first step, great awareness of space on the floor, and he can shoot the 3 well,” Burgener said. “We look for [Shue and Brantley] to be our main outside threats.” The coach said 5-11 senior David Alvarez is very quick with the ball in his hands. “I look for him to be a tough matchup for a lot of teams because he can shoot it and drive it,” Burgener said. Chemistry is the Bulldogs’ No. 1 team strength, the coach said. “My guys love being around each other and love playing for this school,” Burgener said. “Two years ago, we started a program from the ground up with a group of sophomores who are now seniors. These guys have bought into one another and my philosophy, and it makes for fun basketball. “No. 2 would be our athleticism. I have more athletes who could play on any given night than I have ever had. That depth is just what we need come postseason.” The Bulldogs’ biggest weakness is a lack of size, the coach said. “We don’t have anyone over 6-3, and we aren’t used to that, but we look to overcome that with speed,” Burgener said. “Transition offense and defense will be something we focus on a lot this season.” The rival game with Rose Bud on Nov. 13 is one to watch, he said. “Our rivalry with Rose Bud goes back way before I got to Quitman, but I found out quick it is always exciting when the two schools meet in any athletic event,” Burgener said. The Bulldogs are eager to get started, the coach said. “We have experience, and we have guys who will be stepping in this year, but something we can expect to see every night is five kids on the floor giving their guts for the colors they’re wearing,” Burgener said. “This team comes to practice every day with a chip on their shoulder after an early exit in state last year. I hope to see that energy and passion from practice roll over into every game we play.”