Tough year, conference await Tuckerman Bulldogs

Tuckerman head coach Josh Bateman expects every game to be challenging this year. He said that like a lot of other coaches, he thinks anyone can beat you any given night if you aren’t ready to play. “We have won a lot of games the past two seasons, and every night, we show up knowing we are going to get the other team’s best,” he said. Returning this year for Tuckerman, which finished 34-6 last season, is starter Bomani Roberson, who averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.7 steals per game last year. “Bo Roberson is a great player with the ball in his hand,” Bateman said. “Ben Keton, Jacob Roberts, Cameron Jones, Kylan Walls and Porter Hutchinson are guys who are good shooters and also capable of putting the ball on the floor and making a play.” Bateman said Roberson is a college prospect, having led the team in points, rebounds and assists for the past two years. “He does a great job of running our team and doing whatever it takes for us to win,” Bateman said. “He will be a good point guard at the next level for whoever gives him that opportunity.” The coach said Ke Roberson, Jayden Shannon and Garren Fears are able to post up and also pull guys away from the basket with their shooting ability. “I think this group can come close to, if not match, the success of last season if they continue to get better as the season goes,” Bateman said. Nonconference opponents for Tuckerman this year include Izard County Consolidated, Bay, Hillcrest, White County Central and Trumann. “These teams were regional tournament teams, as well as ICC, Bay and WCC being state tournament teams a year ago,” Bateman said. “All these teams have a lot of kids back and have a chance to have really good seasons.” Bateman said the biggest thing to remember is how the season is a marathon, not a sprint. “I think this group has a chance to have a good year,” Bateman said. “We will be better in January than we will be in October. “We are young as far as senior high experience, but we have a bunch of guys who were successful in junior high that just haven’t had the opportunity to play.