2011

THE NE\lTON COUNTY APPEAL

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

ECCC Warrior Basketball Team Members of the 2011-12 East Central Community College men's basketball team are (seat– ed from left) guards T.J. Leatherwood (3) of Northridge High School, Northport, Ala.; Thomas Straughter (11) of Jackson Callaway, Hakeem Wesley (14) of Newton County HS, LaVadius Lyles (20) of Forest, Jontrae Conley (23) of Meridian, Jimmie Broomfield (25) of Scott Central, AndrewHanna (30) of Newton County Academy, Cordarion Nichols (31) of Newton, and Randy Collier (34) of South Leake; and (standing) Matt Riley, assistant coach, managers Marquise Kennedy of Lake and Laromeo McKee of Scott Central, guards Jackson Therrien (12) of Newton County Academy and Glenn Thomas (22) of Loyd Star, forwards Marcus Henry (32) of Thomastown, Nafa Maring (15) of Houston, Texas, University Park Academy, and Akeem Toppin (10) and Bobby Wrench (21), both products of Columbus High School; managers Orlando Rodriguez of Philadelphia and Leonard Lucas of Morton, and Maurice Bowie, head coach.

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Newcomers include guards Tejiminon Leath– erwood (5-6. 145) of •'orthridge (,\la.) High School, Lavadius Lyles (5-7, 180) of Forest, Newton County Academy product Andrew Hanna (5-7, 154), and South Leake product Randy Collier (5-9, 160); and for– wards Akeem Toppi (6-5, 190) of Columbus, Nafa Maring (6-8, 220) of UniversityParkAcademy in Houston, Texas; Bobby Wrench (6-3, 200) of

Columbus, and Thomas– town product Marcus Henry. ··~fy goa· is to keep evaluating the freshmen and help them improve each game,·· said Bowie, a former first team all– state selection at EC. "We are taking this week byweek and making sure we learn not onJJ from one another, but from other teams as well." Bowie said the game plan for this year's suc– cess basically involves

no matter who we play– because of their attitude and refuse-to-lose men– tality. The guys who were here last year know what's at stake and they have pushed the fresh– men every day to get bet– ter and learn quicker. We don't want to win once every five years ... we are building a winning tradi– tion here at ECCC." Former Warr ior standout Matt Riley begins his first year as assistant coach.

one word: speed.

"We have to play real– ly fast because we are small but strong," be said. "Our guard play is our strength. but our undersized forwards are athletic and fun to watch as well." Although be stopped short of making a predic– tion, Bowie is confident success will continue in 2011-12, his sixth year at the helm. "These kids will be in every game this year -