2008

WEEK OF

this year to be take pride in everything they do, not just in basketball." Bowie said he is espe– cially pleased· with his guards and how much con– trol they bring to the game in their role as "field gen– erals." "I am really high on Rod Lofton (6-1 guard) of Forest. He takes it personal every time he's on the court to guard the best offensive player on the other team," Bowie said. Bowie said Rico Jones, a 6-3 guard also from Forest, has been "Mr. Consistent" on and off the court and "is really going to help us down the road when we need that sophomore leadership to show up." Bowie also had praise for his top returning scorers from last year, Josh Luckett, a 6-5 guard/forward and Devarus "Scooter" Walker, a 6-1 guard from Newton County High School. "Luckett led the guys in scoring with 13 points per game and made 59 percent of his shots," Bowie said. "Walker was second in scoring with 12 points per game. He also shot 39 per– cent from the three-point line.~ Forwards James Starks (6-6) of Meridian. Joseph

Thompson (6-7) and Jacob Jordan (6-6) complete the sop)10more class and arc also expected to make a dif– ference this season. Freshmen include guards Asmar Capers (6-3), Antonio Grace (5-9) of Newton, Andre Pitchford (6- 2), Kenny Thomas (6-4), Steve Edwards (6-1) of Newton and Jacob Martin (6-5), and forward Chucky Curry (6-7) ofNewton. Bowie said his goals for the season "are to graduate my kids, develop young men into men, and win at least 90 percent of our games. We also want our guys to act like, practice like and play like champions." Cornelius Gilleylen is serving his first year as Bowie's assistant. An Amory native, Gilleylen is a former assistant men's bas– ketball coach at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, where he had a stellar career. He twice received "Defensive Player of the Year" honors and was ranked 14th in the nation in steals in 2006-07. He was also twice named ''Defeo ive Player oi the Year" at ltawamba Commu– nity .College, where he played for former ECCC head coach Marty Cooper.

ate and .\11- tar honors at Ea"t Central. "ht're she hdped lead the 2003-04 Lady Warriors to region and state titles and a second– place finish in the Consola– tion Bracket of the NJCM Division I Women's Basket– ball Championship in Salina, Kan. She Continued her suc– cess on the basketball court at the University o( Southern Mississippi, where she also received numerous honors. On the men's side, third– year head coach Maurice Bowie expects his Warriors to improve on last year's 11- 13 record. He has good reason to be optimistic. ··rt's not often that you sign every kid you recruit, but we are lruly fortunate to have done o this vear." ~id Bowie. a former ECCC basketball standout "When I put the team together, I ga\·e us depth at every posi– tion and with depth brings about competition and that - what make~ vou a great team - gettng after one another in practice ewrv dav. ~ Jvt'rail. Bo\\'ie said thi vt-..r' teillll "i..;. a ::rood !n'ul.P o' ' >be around -They have reallr worked hard both on and off the court.. We have cballe ed Ulem

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