Team Preview:
Written by: Brandon McIntosh
High expectations. That is what the Kendrick Tigers and Coach Morgan LeBlanc (5th year) will be looking up to at the start of the season. With tons of success on the football field this fall, the basketball team is looking to take the same athletes and work for the same results.
It will always help to have size, athleticism, and players who know their roles and feed off one another. It starts with the Monsters in the Middle-senior First Team All-State and League in Wyatt Hardin (6’6”) and another huge body Hayden Deeds (6’6”). Throw in 6’3” Jerry Gorbett, the tigers look like Monsters.
Another reason for the high expectations, the Tigers lost no one and last year’s team qualified for State. This team is deep with seven upperclassmen (four seniors, 3 juniors). This groups has won two District Championships and two State appearances in three years. So, one can guess the strength of this team will be their senior-driven leadership and inside play, along with being long and having the ability to rebound.
“This team will be fun to watch and we should be able to score some points,” comments Coach LaBlanc, who went on to say “if we play to our potential and [do] not overlook anyone.”
Not planning on overlooking the opponent, Coach LeBlanc will be working on reducing the number of offensive turnovers and increasing their shooting percentage. Per LeBlanc, the Tigers had the worst 3-point shooting percentage last year and that simply can’t occur this year. Along with better shooting, the Tigers are working to be better perimeter defenders. Why not? It seems that the wall has been built to protect the basket. Opposing teams will be looking to jack them up from the outside. Better perimeter defense is a must.
Not overlooking any opponent, but circling the calendar that is a huge rivalry game, the Tigers tell fans they need to be out in swarms for every game, but most importantly for the game with Deary who is athletic and very well coached.
Look for Kendrick to be the team to be in the Whitepine and make a run at the title this season.
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