Jackrabbits playing in hard conference
The Lonoke Jackrabbits return four starters off a competitive team that went 13-14 a year ago. Those starters include seniors Tony Bryant, Braidon Bryant, Isaiah Thomas and Tyriqe Jackson. Lonoke coach Dean Campbell is entering his 10th season as head coach. “Experience will be our strength for this season,” Campbell said. “Several guys have been through at least one, if not two, full seasons of play.” Campbell said Braidon Bryant and Jackson are his two best inside players. “Braidon works hard on every possession,” the coach said. “Tyriqe is really a guard but does a great job of posting and rebounding.” Braidon Bryant averaged 4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game last year, while Jackson averaged 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1 block per game. The best outside players are Tony Bryant, Thomas, Jackson and senior Nick Tate. “Tony is a point guard who can score and really guard the ball,” Campbell said. He averaged 10.2 points, 2.2 assists and 1 steal per game last year. “Isaiah is a combo guard who loves getting others open and delivers the ball on time,” Campbell said. “He takes joy in creating for others and is another really good on-the-ball defender.” Thomas averaged 5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists last year. “Tyriqe brings a lot of length to the board spot and can score inside and out,” Campbell said. “Nick is a shooter who hits shots in bunches. He has developed a pull-up jumper that he needs to be able to get shots off.” Last year, Lonoke fell short of qualifying for the regional tournament. “Because of our league this year, making the regional tournament will be a huge accomplishment,” Campbell said. “Anyone who makes it out of our conference has a real shot at going a long way in the postseason.” Campbell said his team’s lack of depth and overall size are team weaknesses. “We are probably going to be one of the smallest teams in our league, which will have a focus more on rebounding than ever before,” he said. Campbell said games with Stuttgart will be ones to watch. I think Stuttgart will be a big game to come watch since we have not been in the same conference the past few seasons,” he said. “It’s always great games with them, even the past few years in the Goldfish Classic.” Lonoke is a member of the 4A-5 Conference with eStem, Forrest City, Little Rock McClellan, Mills, Pulaski Academy, Stuttgart and Wynne. “It’s hard to narrow down what opponents will be the biggest challenge because of how many good teams there are now in our conference,” Campbell said. “You have Mills, who won Class 5A two seasons ago and was in the finals and had an opportunity to win it all last year. Pulaski Academy is well-coached and has great players. Forrest City brings other levels of play that we haven’t seen. “With adding five former Class 5A schools into our conference, it is going to be a conference where there are no off nights. You hear coaches say that, but it will be never more sure than it will be in our conference this year.”