Returning players look to continue Wolves’ success

Seasoned players return to the Lake Hamilton Wolves this year and look to be just as competitive as the previous seasons in their 6A Conference. “This is a very experienced group,” head coach Scotty Pennington said. “They are tough and gritty and have high expectations coming off last season’s success.” With a 27-5 record last year, the Wolves return with four starters. Mondo Watkins, a “6-foot athletic guard with a 40-inch vertical,” the coach said, averaged 14 points, 4 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 steals per game last season. Lane Kersey, a “good shooter who can attack the basket and is good in transition,” Pennington said, averaged 16 points, 3 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals per game. Clyde Hill, “a 6-1, 225-pound forward, is very quick and nimble” the coach said, and averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game. Kanaan Williams, “a 6-3 athletic and physical post, is very quick,” Pennington said, and averaged 8 points and 8 rebounds per game. Other returning players include Malique Hill, a “6-1 shooter whose shot is 45 percent from the 3-point,” and Sabby Vinson, “a 40 percent shooter from the 3-point line” who holds the outside perimeter solid, while Jordan Erickson, a “6-10 post with a great shooting touch who is an extremely smart player” holds the inside, Pennington said. The combination of these players gave the Wolves a strong team defense, holding last season’s competition to “on average, under 45 points per game,” the coach said, and they “got to the free-throw line more than our opponents” making them a very aggressive team that will carry this strength on into the season. The matchups to look forward to this season, Pennington said, are Jonesboro Westside, Hot Springs and Benton, with the main game to watch on Dec. 7 at Jonesboro. “We have back-to-back state champions on the road,” the coach said. Pennington said he has high expectations for his players and knows they are up for the challenges they face, especially with Watkins, Kersey, Hill and Erickson getting college interest for basketball, and Williams, who will be signing for a football scholarship.

This is a very experienced group. They are tough and gritty and have high expectations coming off last season’s success.” SCOTTY PENNINGTON LAKE HAMILTON WOLVES COACH