It’s Football Season, But Don’t Forget Hoops
Chase Colston
We all know that no sport will ever overtake football in Texas, especially ’round these parts where some of the best high school players in the country reside.
But this year, basketball has a case … a strong case against the pigskin. Roundball is going to be the sport to watch this year.
Seven schools in the Tyler Courier-Times—Telegraph’s coverage area are ranked in the preseason Texas Association of Basketball Coaches polls, including three in the top two.
Chapel Hill, Pittsburg and Arp left much to be desired last season, as in a state championship.
But this year, basketball has a case … a strong case against the pigskin. Roundball is going to be the sport to watch this year.
Seven schools in the Tyler Courier-Times—Telegraph’s coverage area are ranked in the preseason Texas Association of Basketball Coaches polls, including three in the top two.
Chapel Hill, Pittsburg and Arp left much to be desired last season, as in a state championship.
(Staff File Photo By Amy Peterson)
CHAPEL HILL’S Chris Mass was the All-East Texas Player of the Year last year by the Tyler Courier-Times--Telegraph.
But Chapel Hill, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, came the closest to gold before losing to Hardin-Jefferson in the state semifinals. Pittsburg, ranked second in 3A, found its demise at the hands of Chapel Hill.
Arp, ranked first in 2A and the 2006 state champion, lost to two-time defending state champion Kountze in the regional finals.
Could all that change this year?
Well, that should give you a reason to go watch.
All three teams have the ingredients, which are four seniors who head arguably the deepest field of basketball talent this area has seen in recent memory.
Chapel Hill’s Chris Mass and T.J. Riley, Pittsburg’s Kendall Wright and Arp’s Sedrick Johnson are going to steal the headlines when they play each other and against other teams.
Now we’ll take a quick run-through of a few top-five lists you can monitor throughout the season.
And go watch some basketball.
TOP FIVE PLAYERS
These players also make up the Tyler Paper’s preseason All-East Texas Team.
1. Kendall Wright, Pittsburg — Wright is East Texas’ leading scorer and one of the most dynamic players in the state, despite the fact he doesn’t quite stand 6 feet tall. He can hit the three or do a 360-degree slam.
2. Sedrick Johnson, Arp — He can bounce the ball, shoot the ball, pass the ball, dunk the ball … whatever Johnson wants to do with the rock, he can do it. Arp’s 6-4 man-child is the area’s most versatile player and he’ll show that when he plays both football and basketball at Texas A&M.
3. T.J. Riley, Chapel Hill — All due respect to Riley’s teammate, Chris Mass, the one they call “T.J.” is the one who makes his team go. Riley is undoubtedly the smartest player of the group and has a lot to play for since the Bulldogs were knocked out two wins from owning a ring.
4. Chris Mass, Chapel Hill — Mass easily has the most raw talent of any player in the area. It’s just the matter of putting it all together. He’s 6-foot-4 and is a game-breaker on offense or defense. He injured his foot in the state semifinals and is looking for one final shot.
5. Cade Clark, Whitehouse — Clark is the least talked-about player of the five, but he’s 6-foot-6 and can do much of the same things Johnson and Mass can do. Whitehouse is ranked 18th in the preseason poll and Clark will be one to push them up the list.
TOP FIVE TEAMS
1. Chapel Hill — Mass and Riley will be forced to carry the load even more this year. The Bulldogs graduated several key role players last season and will need some younger players to step up to complement their two stars.
2. Whitehouse — Clark isn’t the only one on this team. Point guard Mitch Marquis is one of the best in the area and is one of the top junior players. Kyle Ford and Lindale transfer Jacob Holmen will also contribute well to the team with the best depth around.
3. Arp — Johnson will be looked to lead this team even more this season. Arp has the tools but has the issue of playing in the toughest 2A region in the state. District foe Tatum is also ranked in the TABC’s top 20.
4. Pittsburg — The Pirates’ trio of Wright, Carlos Brown and Mark Farmer could be the best three in the area, but Pittsburg will have to get more points in the paint to be successful. When the Pirates are struggling from the outside, they struggle as a team.
5. Martins Mill — The Mustangs graduated almost their entire state finalist team, but we all know that every year will be a big one in Ben Wheeler. Martins Mill was closer than the other two teams that made it to Austin last year to win a state title.
TOP FIVE GAMES
1. Pittsburg at Chapel Hill, Dec. 18 — A rematch of the 3A Region II quarterfinal from last year that Chapel Hill won, 80-75. Mass, Riley, Wright and Brown all played summer ball together (with Johnson), so they’ll take their friendly rivalry to the court again. This will likely be a preview of the same playoff matchup.
2. Arp at Whitehouse, Nov. 26 — Johnson vs. Clark will be a matchup to see with two of the area’s best big men. Whitehouse will have all the advantages with depth and shooting, but don’t count out any team with Johnson on it.
3. Pittsburg vs. Dallas Roosevelt, Dec. 20 — Two days after playing Chapel Hill, Pittsburg entertains the 2006 3A state champion. Roosevelt won in a shootout last year in Dallas.
4. Chapel Hill vs. Whitehouse, Dec. 29 — Call this a premature prediction, but if we don’t see Chapel Hill and Whitehouse in the final of the Wagstaff Classic, dinner’s on me. These two rivals don’t play each other in football anymore, but basketball is more fun with these two anyway.
5. Bullard vs. Chapel Hill, Jan. 11 & 29 — Bullard still has a young team that could develop into one that could contend for a state title in two years. The Panthers will be a tough test for Chapel Hill when it comes to winning the District 14-3A title.
Arp, ranked first in 2A and the 2006 state champion, lost to two-time defending state champion Kountze in the regional finals.
Could all that change this year?
Well, that should give you a reason to go watch.
All three teams have the ingredients, which are four seniors who head arguably the deepest field of basketball talent this area has seen in recent memory.
Chapel Hill’s Chris Mass and T.J. Riley, Pittsburg’s Kendall Wright and Arp’s Sedrick Johnson are going to steal the headlines when they play each other and against other teams.
Now we’ll take a quick run-through of a few top-five lists you can monitor throughout the season.
And go watch some basketball.
TOP FIVE PLAYERS
These players also make up the Tyler Paper’s preseason All-East Texas Team.
1. Kendall Wright, Pittsburg — Wright is East Texas’ leading scorer and one of the most dynamic players in the state, despite the fact he doesn’t quite stand 6 feet tall. He can hit the three or do a 360-degree slam.
2. Sedrick Johnson, Arp — He can bounce the ball, shoot the ball, pass the ball, dunk the ball … whatever Johnson wants to do with the rock, he can do it. Arp’s 6-4 man-child is the area’s most versatile player and he’ll show that when he plays both football and basketball at Texas A&M.
3. T.J. Riley, Chapel Hill — All due respect to Riley’s teammate, Chris Mass, the one they call “T.J.” is the one who makes his team go. Riley is undoubtedly the smartest player of the group and has a lot to play for since the Bulldogs were knocked out two wins from owning a ring.
4. Chris Mass, Chapel Hill — Mass easily has the most raw talent of any player in the area. It’s just the matter of putting it all together. He’s 6-foot-4 and is a game-breaker on offense or defense. He injured his foot in the state semifinals and is looking for one final shot.
5. Cade Clark, Whitehouse — Clark is the least talked-about player of the five, but he’s 6-foot-6 and can do much of the same things Johnson and Mass can do. Whitehouse is ranked 18th in the preseason poll and Clark will be one to push them up the list.
TOP FIVE TEAMS
1. Chapel Hill — Mass and Riley will be forced to carry the load even more this year. The Bulldogs graduated several key role players last season and will need some younger players to step up to complement their two stars.
2. Whitehouse — Clark isn’t the only one on this team. Point guard Mitch Marquis is one of the best in the area and is one of the top junior players. Kyle Ford and Lindale transfer Jacob Holmen will also contribute well to the team with the best depth around.
3. Arp — Johnson will be looked to lead this team even more this season. Arp has the tools but has the issue of playing in the toughest 2A region in the state. District foe Tatum is also ranked in the TABC’s top 20.
4. Pittsburg — The Pirates’ trio of Wright, Carlos Brown and Mark Farmer could be the best three in the area, but Pittsburg will have to get more points in the paint to be successful. When the Pirates are struggling from the outside, they struggle as a team.
5. Martins Mill — The Mustangs graduated almost their entire state finalist team, but we all know that every year will be a big one in Ben Wheeler. Martins Mill was closer than the other two teams that made it to Austin last year to win a state title.
TOP FIVE GAMES
1. Pittsburg at Chapel Hill, Dec. 18 — A rematch of the 3A Region II quarterfinal from last year that Chapel Hill won, 80-75. Mass, Riley, Wright and Brown all played summer ball together (with Johnson), so they’ll take their friendly rivalry to the court again. This will likely be a preview of the same playoff matchup.
2. Arp at Whitehouse, Nov. 26 — Johnson vs. Clark will be a matchup to see with two of the area’s best big men. Whitehouse will have all the advantages with depth and shooting, but don’t count out any team with Johnson on it.
3. Pittsburg vs. Dallas Roosevelt, Dec. 20 — Two days after playing Chapel Hill, Pittsburg entertains the 2006 3A state champion. Roosevelt won in a shootout last year in Dallas.
4. Chapel Hill vs. Whitehouse, Dec. 29 — Call this a premature prediction, but if we don’t see Chapel Hill and Whitehouse in the final of the Wagstaff Classic, dinner’s on me. These two rivals don’t play each other in football anymore, but basketball is more fun with these two anyway.
5. Bullard vs. Chapel Hill, Jan. 11 & 29 — Bullard still has a young team that could develop into one that could contend for a state title in two years. The Panthers will be a tough test for Chapel Hill when it comes to winning the District 14-3A title.
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