New-look Dragons hope to continue success

By Jason Avery

News-Times Staff

EL DORADO - In the past, Junction City always had a star player they could rely on to take games over down the stretch.

But with the graduation of Tyrus Grayson, the Dragons head into the 2016-17 season lacking that feature.

However, that shouldn’t be a deterrent for the Dragons, especially considering they have many returnees from a team that reached the 2A state semifinals.

“Practices have been pretty solid,” said Junction City coach Kendall Hutcheson. “We’ve got a bunch of young guys. Last year, we definitely had a go-to scorer and a guy everyone knew was going to get the ball. This year, we really don’t have that. We’re pretty balanced.

“We had a bunch of sophomores last year, so some of these guys have a little bit of experience, and we’ve got some guys that didn’t play with us last year that will be with us that have a little bit of experience, so it’s a learning experience for them right now in practice for some of them, but it’s going well. They’re going hard, getting after it, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Junction City opens the season tonight by playing at Warren in their Class 3A-4A District 12 opener.

Hutcheson said it would be different not having that go-to player when the team needs a basket.

“It is a little bit of a learning experience,” Hutcheson said. “Every year’s team has a different personality. There’s a different style that they respond to, a different way to play. One year, the team may be kind of quiet and subdued in the locker room, and that may mean they’re about to get their butts kicked. The next year, they may be quiet and subdued in the locker room, and that may mean they’re about to kill somebody.

“Every group is different, and it’s a learning experience for me more so just finding the personality of this team. I know I’ve got some kids who can score a little bit. I think the biggest learning curve for all of us is we all have to get on the same page.

“They have to understand that last year, everyone understood who the dog was on the team, and I thought we did a fantastic job of getting him the ball. There wasn’t any jealousy. This year, we’ve got to make sure we keep that team mentality and do what’s best for the team. If we do that, I think we’re going to be fine.”

A trio of juniors that cut their teeth as underclassmen last year headline the returnees.

Junior Terrell Gibson, who averaged close to seven assists per game last year, is back to run the offense.

“Terrell Gibson is a good leader on the floor,” Hutcheson said. “He’s a very intelligent kid, and a good athlete. He’s a strong, physical kid. He looks more like a linebacker than a point guard, but he does a great job of distributing the ball. He can finish well at the hole, draws a lot of contact and gets to the free-throw line a lot. He’s a good floor leader.”

Fellow junior Hishmma Taylor also is back, and the Dragons will be counting on his production in several areas.

“He’s one of those kids that’s an energy guy,” Hutcheson said. “He plays super hard all the time. He gets to the glass hard. He’s a team guy. He’s going to take advantage of what you give him.”

Perhaps the biggest addition for the Dragons will be that of junior Jalen Davis, who tore his ACL early last season.

“At the time he went down last year, he was our second leading scorer and second leading rebounder,” Hutcheson said. “He was averaging a double-double when he went down. After he went down, we went 1-3 in our next four games adjusting to life without him. He’s one of those guys I describe as being like Energizer bunny. He just goes hard all the time. He gets the job done. We hope he comes back totally healthy, but he’s looked good in practice.”

The Dragons also have three seniors in Keelen Ford, C.J. Johnson and LaJuan Hill that will be expected to guide the youthful Dragons.

Ford returns after starting as a junior.

“He’s just a worker,” Hutcheson said. “He’s not a flashy player, he just finds a way to score points, plays great defense and gets on the boards well.”

Johnson will counted on to be a defensive stalwart in the backcourt.

“He plays great defense, and we’ll put him on the other team’s best guard,” Hutcheson said.

After a one-year hiatus, Hill returns to the Dragons, and Hutcheson will be counting on his versatility.

“He’s about 6-1, 6-2, he can jump, he’s got long arms and he shoots and handles the ball well,” Hutcheson said. “He can finish around the basket. He’s more of a long, lanky guard, but he’ll help us inside.”

Like Hill, junior Shuvasceiaye Frazier didn’t play last year, but elected to play this season for the Dragons

“He shoots the ball pretty well,” Hutcheson said. “He’s a good defensive player and a good leaper. He really plays hard.”

Perhaps the biggest factor going forward for the Dragons could be their sophomore class.

Last year, Jerrodney Tubbs made his presence immediately felt by averaging 15 points and eight rebounds during the Dragons’ postseason run after being moved up from the junior high team.

“He’s a real physical banger,” Hutcheson said. “He’s a dominant force inside.”

Fellow sophomore Charles Hoof played a big role in Junction City winning the 7-2A East Junior District Tournament crown last year, and Dhante Gibson is another sophomore who has been coming on, knows his role and plays within himself, Hutcheson said.

The coach added that senior Brennan Lee brings plenty of toughness and tenacity to the team.

Although this may not be the Junction City team fans have become accustomed to, Hutcheson is very excited about their prospects.

“That’s the kind of thing that excites you from time to time,” Hutcheson said. “Last year’s junior high bunch was that kind of team. Early in the year, we were getting beat by everybody. We really weren’t that good. But by the end of the year, we ended up winning the district championship, beating the teams that beat us. It’s about learning, getting better, understanding each other as a team and being good teammates. They’ve done a good job of that, and that’s what makes me excited about it. Any night, any particular guy can go off and carry us. It’s nice to have that superstar you can count on, but there’s not really that one guy this year. We’re going to have to get out there, bust our tails and fight and scrap and try to find a way to win.”

As far as their new conference is concerned, Hutcheson said he is looking forward to playing some schools the Dragons haven’t played in the past.

“It is what it is, but we like good competition,” Hutcheson said. “We like playing people that are bigger and better than us, and that always makes you better if you try to improve yourself. It’s going to be really interesting. We haven’t played any of these guys since I’ve been here, so we’re excited about that. We love good competition, so that’s going to be good for us.”

On Thursday, the Dragons will play their first home game in their brand new gym, and Hutcheson said they will be ready to go.

“They’re really excited,” Hutcheson said. “When you’re at Junction City, and you’re not playing football in December, you’re disappointed. That’s just part of it. I’m a football coach and 90, 95 percent of my team is football players, so when you finish football early, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. These guys are competitors, and they’re ready to get back out there.”

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