Rebels looking for big season under new coach

Sacred Heart’s boys have a new coach and a new spirit for the 2018-19 season. Len Harris replaces Aaron Duvall as coach. Harris had retired a few years ago after a 32-year coaching career that included a long tenure at Wonderview. “I missed it too much and decided to get back in,” Harris said. “I put in 32 years at a lot of the area schools.” The Rebels finished 18-17 a year ago but missed the regional tournament. They return three starters from last year’s squad, including senior point guard Ben Drilling, junior forward Qualyn James and junior forward Luke Hartman. Other players who will see significant playing time are senior guard Cody Jones and senior post Zakk Hoelzeman. Harris said the discipline he sees at a private school plays right into his coaching philosophy. “Everyone’s got a job, and you’re expected to do that job and do it to the best of your ability,” he said. “It just mirrors the school’s mission. It’s been a very smooth start. I’ve got really high hopes for this group. We’ve got good size all the way around.” Harris said the guard play will be a work in progress. “We’re moving a kid to the point who has never really played a true point guard,” he said, referring to Drilling. “I’m very hopeful that it’s going to work out well.” Sacred Heart is a member of the 1A-5 Conference, which includes some of the top teams in Class 1A, including defending state champion Guy-Perkins, Timbo, Wonderview, West Side Greers Ferry, Concord, Mount Vernon-Enola, Rural Special and Shirley. “Our conference is going to be brutal,” Harris said. “It’s going to be whoever can hang on the longest will win it. Everybody in our conference is good and well-coached. “My expectations are high, but they aren’t any higher than anybody else’s in our conference. It’s going to be a war to see who comes out of this thing.” Harris said shooting is a team strength. “I’ve got some kids who can shoot it,” he said. “We’ve got size all the way around. We go 6-2 all across the board with all five of our starters. We’ve trying to work on the little things, if there are things that we don’t do well. I just think that it’s going to be a work in progress.” Harris is excited for the season, which started with a 43-35 win over Ouachita on Oct. 16. “We talk about it every day, playing in March,” he said. “We also know that in our conference and our region that’s it’s basically going to come down to a two-game season. Everybody in our conference has the same goal.”