Pottsville touts size, depth as team strengths

The Pottsville boys basketball team may be a force to be reckoned with again this year. The team, coached by Shane Thurman, was 28-3, won a conference championship, a district championship, a regional championship and qualified for the state tournament last year. “It would be great to have that kind of success again, but it is too soon to tell if that is going to happen,” Thurman said. “We could have a lot of fun if we come together as a team.” In his eighth season at Pottsville, his overall record is 428-191 in 21 seasons; he was assistant coach for three years. Last year, Pottsville was in a 3A-4A blended conference. This year, the conference is 4A-4, with Dardanelle, Dover, Heber Springs, Morrilton, Clarksville, Subiaco and Ozark. Pottsville has two returning starters from the 2017-2018 squad, both seniors — Wesley Heikes, the 6-6, 195-pound two-time all-state player, and all-conference Logan Porter, 6-3, 195, with 14 points per game. Thurman said the best inside players include Carter Horton, 6-4, 205-pound senior, and the coach’s son, sophomore Trey Thurman, 6-4, 200 pounds. “Carter has great hands and footwork around the basket,” the coach said. “Trey’s versatility and basketball IQ are his strongest assets right now. He can play multiple positions. Junior Kade Prince and senior Andrew Lee are stretch 4s (power forwards) that can shoot it.” Coach Thurman said Heikes can be a “matchup nightmare because of his size and flexibility to play near the basket or on the perimeter.” Thurman described Porter as a “knock-down shooter who has added the ability to drive and finish.” Senior Marco Ybarra “is relentless on defense and has a nose for the ball,” Thurman said. The coach said Blake Andrews, a 6-foot senior, will make a contribution because of his experience and solid play. Cade Mainhart, a 6-1 junior, “may be the most improved player on the team and has great range,” Thurman said. He also praised Elijah Bradley, a 6-2 sophomore, as “disruptive on defense because of his length and athletic ability.” “Garrett Reed, a 5-9 junior, could see some action as well because of his calm demeanor and ability to read defenses,” Thurman said. Another player who might contribute is junior Quinn Lee. “We are hoping to get Quinn Lee back from a knee injury that he suffered during the summer. He could play a role if he gets healthy,” the coach said. Thurman said the team’s strengths are size and depth. He said what concerns him is the unproven guard play. “We plan to overcome it by sharing the responsibility of handling the ball based on who has the best matchup,” the coach said. Speaking of matchups, “we always look forward to the Hoops for Hunger Tournament in Russellville. It happens over Christmas break, and we end up playing some bigger schools that we wouldn’t play otherwise,” Thurman said. In the new conference, the biggest challenges will be Subiaco and Ozark, which are “tough places to play, and both teams return some of their key players from a year ago. Dardanelle and Dover are rivalry games due to proximity,” the coach said. Heikes may play college ball because of his size and versatility, Thurman said. “There are a couple of others who could play at the next level if they continue to improve,” he said. All in all, Thurman is optimistic. “We are a really good mix of veteran players and talented newcomers. The conference is going to be really good, so we will need to continue to improve as the season progresses to reach our goals,” he said.