PERRYVILLE MUSTANGS
Dawson Bullock, a 6-3 “slasher, an aggressive outstanding defender.” Junior Reid Standridge, 6-3, is an athletic rebounder who is the quarterback of the football team, too. Joining Thessing on the perimeter, Hargrove said, will be seniors Koby Thomas, a guard who is also recovering from ACL surgery, and Eddie Jeffs, “a 3-point threat.” Jeb Melton, a sophomore, was an outstanding junior high player last year and is expected to contribute. Two juniors will round out the best outside players — Ryan Standridge, “a tough defender,” the coach said, and Will Crowder, who is “long and athletic.” The team, which is in the realigned 3A-4 Conference, is joined by Jessieville, Fountain Lake, Booneville, Two Rivers, Lamar, Paris and Atkins. Despite the team’s inexperience, Hargrove said “we should be good defensively and understand the offensive system.” Although he’s only in his second year of coaching the Mustangs, Hargrove is no newbie. He’s starting his 29th year in the profession, and he has racked up 665 career wins. The Marshall native’s career includes serving as a graduate assistant for the Sugar Bears at the University of Central Arkansas under former coach Ronnie Marvel and coaching the Viola boys basketball and baseball teams to state championships in 2002. He spent eight years at Flippin High School before taking the position in Perryville. Although he has his work cut out for him, Hargrove is optimistic about this season. “We expect to be competitive,” he said. “We want to play hard, play smart and play together.”