By Tom Waddill
Huntsville basketball coach Larry Carlson tried his best to put on a happy face Tuesday night. Attempting to remain upbeat, Carlson talked about his team’s third straight loss.
“The good thing, the positive is, we’ve lost three in a row to three very good (Class) 5A schools,” Carlson said after the Hornets’ comeback attempt fell short in a 58-52 loss to Oak Ridge at the Paul Bohan Hornet Gym. “We’re getting good competition, but we’ve got to start putting these games away.”
Carlson added that he isn’t used to losing. Huntsville has won far more than it has lost during his tenure, first as the Hornets’ top assistant, then starting last season, as the team’s head coach.
The Hornets have captured three straight District 18-4A championships, and they should contend with Brenham, Montgomery and Magnolia for another title this season. To do that, though, the Hornets must play like they did late in Tuesday’s game.
After falling behind 41-21 through two-plus periods, Carlson’s squad got busy and went to work. Senior guard Jeremy Laday led the Hornets on an 11-0 run to finish the third quarter. Laday then scored the first three points in the fourth period and got Huntsville within six at 41-35.
Oak Ridge stretched its lead back to 11 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Hornets made one more run at the War Eagles. Trapping all over the court, Huntsville turned three quick steals into six points and trailed 53-49 with two minutes to go. That was as close at the Hornets got.
Carlson said his team’s struggles may have something to do with an influx of new blood, five guys who have been playing football since summertime. The coach believes the Hornets will be OK in time, but it’s going to take a while for Justin Gilbert, Trevion Byrd, Shaquille Ross, Kervin Simmons and Ross Nesselrode to learn the offense and settle in defensively.
“They’re still learning some of our plays,” senior guard Marvin Dunbar said of the five Hornets who recently joined the varsity team. “They’ve really only had one practice with us, and that was (Monday).”
“Their shots aren’t going to be as good right now,” senior James Driscoll added. “They don’t have their basketball legs, either.”
The Hornets may get just what the doctor ordered starting today. Huntsville is playing in the 16-team Killeen ISD Basketball Classic. The Hornets will play five games in the next three days, which will give them some time to iron out some of their problem areas.
Huntsville plays Killeen Shoemaker tonight at 7:30 at Shoemaker High School. On Friday, the Hornets battle Red Oak at 10:30 a.m., and Brazosport at 4:30 p.m. Based on their results in the first three games, the Hornets will move into one of four brackets for Saturday’s final two games.
Other teams in the Killeen tourney are Gregory-Portland, Austin Lanier, Killeen High, Socorro, Port Lavaca Calhoun, Austin McCallum, Killeen Ellison, Spring DeKaney, Pflugerville, Dallas Madison, Harker Heights and Houston Westbury Christian.
Before the Hornets tip off the District 18-4A season at home on Jan. 2 against Waller, they will play in two more tournaments — next week in Victoria and on Dec. 28-30 in Conroe. The Huntsville boys also play three games, all on the road, prior to the district opener.
Top-ranked Bulldogs to play
at Toyota Center
The New Waverly boys, the state’s No. 1 team in Class 2A, will clash with Cleveland, the sixth-ranked team in Class 3A, on Dec. 22 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Prior to the Houston Rockets’ game that night against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Bulldogs and Indians will play at 1 p.m.
Tickets for the high school game are also good for the Rockets’ game. Fans can buy tickets, which range in price from $12 to $20, by calling New Waverly High School at (936) 344-6451.
The Dogs have gotten off to a fast start this season, cruising past Alto and beating Class 4A Montgomery 63-55 on Tuesday night in Montgomery.
Former Huntsville coach resigns
from Round Rock McNeil
Robert Wilcox stepped down Tuesday as the head football coach at McNeil High. Wilcox, who coached at Huntsville from 2000-01, told the Austin American-Statesman that a “mutual decision” had been reached between him and Round Rock ISD officials.
Wilcox left McNeil after going 39-44 in eight seasons, including a 2-8 mark this fall. He accepted a temporary position in the district’s athletic department, but said he would like to coach again.
“I really like to see young people succeed,” said Wilcox, who won a district championship in his first year at Huntsville.
“Sometimes that’s not evident on the scoreboard. It’s about teaching discipline to the players, and showing dignity and integrity.”
Wilcox has a career record of 103-72 in 16 years. Before coming to Huntsville, Wilcox coached at Royse City and Arp.
With 11 starters returning from the ’08 team that went 5-4, expectations were high for McNeil this year. The Mavericks opened with three straight losses, including a 44-39 setback to A&M; Consolidated in the opener and a 41-34 loss to Bryan High in the third game.
McNeil kicked off District 16-5A play by beating two of its first three opponents, but the Mavericks lost their final four games and missed the playoffs.
Wilcox told the Statesman that it “almost killed” him to tell his assistant coaches about the change. He did not address the players, saying he was “too emotional” to speak to them.
“I’ve got a great, warm feeling for the kids at McNeil,” he told the Austin newspaper. “I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the school and the school district.”
