Risco hoops testing itself now in prep for BIG games later

Veteran Risco High School varsity boy's basketball coach Brandon Blankenship speaks to his team during a timeout in a recent game against South Pemiscot at Risco High School.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

RISCO – This time of year has proven to be a touch stressful for veteran Risco High School varsity boy’s basketball coach Brandon Blankenship.

Typically, the Tigers compete in the Clarkton Holiday Tournament in mid-December before taking an extended break until after the new year. However, this winter, the Tigers were a late addition to the annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, and Blankenship’s team welcomed the opportunity to take on challenge after challenge after challenge over the past few weeks.

“You want as many tough games on your schedule,” Blankenship said after a recent win over Class 2 No. 8-ranked South Pemiscot.

Risco (12-2) is just eight points shy of being unbeaten and is ranked No. 3 in Class 1, and it has gotten to this point by challenging itself. The Tigers have already played a pair of eight-win squads (Southland and Bernie), as well as five other teams (Doniphan, Bloomfield, Dexter, Van Buren, and Richland (Essex), and that group doesn’t even include South Pemiscot (5-1).

“We really try to make our non-conference (the Tigers compete in the Tri-County Conference) schedule as tough as we can,” Blankenship continued.

In the Bloomfield event, the Tigers finished 3-1 with wins over the host Wildcats (51-31), Class 2 No. 17-ranked Van Buren (94-89 in double overtime), and Richland (Essex) (77-67). Risco’s lone defeat was a 69-67 nailbiter against Class 4 Dexter.

“Getting in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament was big,” Blankenship said, “because we got to play a bunch of tough games.”

The Tigers came right out of that event, held off a tough South Pemiscot team, and responded Thursday with a 72-56 win at Bell City, another six-win team.

Risco still has Cooter (9-3), Richland (Essex), which is ranked No. 8 in Class 1, Campbell (11 wins and is ranked No. 15 in Class 2), Hayti (8-1), and Senath-Hornersville (8-3) remaining on its schedule, as well as having to battle through its league tournament.

“We want those types of games,” Blankenship said. “Yeah, you want to have a great record at the end of the year, but really it is about being tested and seeing how you respond.”

Risco’s lone test this week will be on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Clarkton (1-9).

The Tigers are seeking their third consecutive winning season this winter.