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Tigers embracing tough tests early on the hardwood
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Veteran Caruthersville High School boy's basketball coach Lamonte Bell speaks to his players during a timeout in the recent Riverbend Classic at New Madrid County Central High School.
Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com
Veteran Caruthersville High School boy’s basketball coach Lamonte Bell has been at this gig long enough to understand what is best for his players in the long run. What that means in the immediate future is that the Tigers will be tested early and often, with hopes that any adversity builds toughness in February and March.
“I have beefed up our schedule to prepare us for District (play),” Bell said recently. “This is the toughest schedule we’ve played in my 10 years (as a head coach).
“The guys have accepted the challenge. They are working hard every day.”
Caruthersville (0-2) took its lumps over the weekend with a pair of losses in the Riverbend Classic at New Madrid County Central High School, and the tests will continue tonight at Poplar Bluff and a home game against Jackson (2-1) on Friday, with both games starting at 7:30 p.m.
“We got the two hardest teams in the (Riverbend Classic),” Bell said prior to the tournament. “The way that I look at it is that I would rather lose to a team that I wasn’t supposed to beat than lose to a team that I should have beaten.”
Bell has been emphasizing a lot of aspects to his players in a short amount of time this season, due to the Tiger football players being immersed in their season until Nov. 15. That lack of basketball conditioning showed in the Riverbend Classic.
“That was pretty evident,” Bell continued on his team’s fatigue. “We were missing easy shots. We just stopped executing on the offensive end and let guys get around us on the defensive end.
“I’m not real concerned, because we’ve got time to get better.”
An added asset that Caruthersville will have this week that they didn’t have in the Riverbend Classic is the infusion of athleticism and talent by junior guard Xavier McCluey, who sat out the initial two games due to illness.
“Xavier is a go-getter,” Bell said of the Dyersburg (Tenn.) move-in. “He’s a good defender and is that guy who dives on the floor and gets you an extra possession.”
The Tigers struggled to guard in their first two games, but Bell said this team has the ability to defend well.
“They are all quick,” Bell said of his team’s defensive potential. “They are all strong. They move well.
“I’m trying to get them to play that old-school, hard-nosed defense, blocking out, and rebounding. If we can do those things, I think we can compete with anybody.”
The Tigers had balanced scoring in their first game of the season, as juniors Quawanterrious McVay, and Sammy Bryant combined for 30 points while senior Jermonte Alexander added 14.
“I think once we get going and are in better condition,” Bell said, “we could have four players score in double figures.”