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New names, but the game remains the same
Published January 18, 2008
The names in the scorebook change, but the names on the jerseys remain the same.
For that reason alone, both Tivy coach Brian Young and Fredericksburg coach Tim Kaman expect a typical battle tonight, when the Antlers host the Billies in a District 27-4A boys basketball showdown in the Tivy Gymnasium.
That the Antlers come in 20-4 and No. 19 in the state in this week’s TABC/Texas Prep state rankings adds a little spice.
But just a little.
“Everyone talks about a ‘rivalry,’” said Kaman, whose team brings a 16-9 mark overall and 1-1 district record into the contest. “But, when I look at things, I realistically can’t say that I know what a ‘rival’ is because it doesn’t matter who I’m playing against, I want to win — whether by one point or 20.
“I know this: It will be a war. It always is.”
Inevitably.
Last season, the Billies got the better of the “war,” sweeping both games.
But, that’s where the names game begins.
Last season, Fredericksburg relied heavily on 6-foot-5 Clay Sears. The three-sport star scored 18 points when the Billies handed the Antlers a 34-28 loss in Fredericksburg, and finished with 20 points after leading a late surge to help his team earn a 45-42 win at Tivy.
But Sears is one of eight players gone from that Billies team, which finished 27-9 overall and the district champions.
“Last year, everything we did, we involved Clay,” Kaman said. “The nice thing was, Clay helped make everyone better, because he worked to keep everyone involved and he was the guy who usually got all the attention from other teams.
“Now, there is not one guy on our team that is getting that kind of attention this year, which can be a good and a bad thing. The good thing is, people really don’t know who to concentrate on in a go-to situation. The bad thing is, you really don’t know who is going to step up and take that shot when you need it.”
Fredericksburg has four players back from last season, including starters Travis Eden and Luke Evans. Evans missed the Billies’ district opener, a 67-49 loss at Alamo Heights, because of a bad back, but returned to score nine points and grab four rebounds in a 50-43 win over Kennedy.
“We feel like we have a solid foundation with the two starters we have returning,” Kaman said.
Some things, Young said, never change.
“Coach Kaman probably has the best shooting team in the area — he does every year,” Young said. “They shoot the ball extremely well. They have not slipped at all in that category.”
The Antlers, at 2-0 in the district, faced a transition, as well, with the loss of long-time starters Craig Rhyne and Tu-Car Speller. But, Kaman said, obviously have adjusted well this season.
“The mainstay of good programs is good defense, and they always play good defense at Tivy,” he said. “If kids sell themselves on playing defense, then you are always in ball games. Even great offensive teams have off nights, but defense — I don’t think — physically can have off nights. It’s about working hard, and if you do, then you always give yourself a chance to win.
“Where I think Tivy is better is on offense. Brian had Rhyne since he started playing varsity as a sophomore, and Tu-Car came up during his freshman season. They both had a lot of experience, but everybody knew about them and what they can do. They have (Jonathon) Perry back with a lot of varsity experience, but after him nobody really knows what to expect from the other guys, and Brian has a lot of people capable of doing some good things.”
Indeed, Perry, a sophomore, has had big games, including 18 points in the Antlers’ 71-50 win at Memorial on Tuesday. But, a number of Tivy players have come up big this season. Ethan Welch had 17 points, including a tip-in game-winner, in the Antlers’ 40-38 win at Kennedy. Phillip Thompson had 14 in that game, as well.
“We go to whoever is putting it in the hole that night,” Young said. “I think the kids determine that. I am blessed with a lot of unselfish kids and we probably have the best inside game we’ve had here since 2002. We have depth there, and we have a number of kids fitting roles at the guard sports. Some are slashers, some are shooters and scorers.
“I like the fact that it’s hard to figure out our team offensively, that other teams can’t really figure out our offensive identity.”
Contact Bill Begley at bill.begley(at)dailytimes.com
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