Pictured is #5 Petey Justice and #22 Trevor Hunt
Expectations are high for the Jr Bulldogs this year as they tip-off basketball season. Led by some experienced guards and a deep bench, the Dogs hope to reach every expectation that they have set for themselves. “Having an experienced team is rare in Jr High basketball but because of the make-up of our team last year, a lot of these 9th graders got valuable playing time last season,” explains Head Coach, Joshua Atchley. “I’ve been telling my guys that this might be the deepest team I’ve had the opportunity to coach.”
The Jr High Dogs feature fifteen 9th graders in Drake Wagner, Lidge Stinson, Ethan Mayberry, Jose Cardenas, Forest Efurd, Petey Justice, Jacob Daggs, Peyton Lipham, Alex Hernandez, Kason In The Woods, Tobias Brown, Trevor Hunt, Trenton Hunt, Dristen Hill, and Jon Jon Valdez. “These guys were a big part of the games we won last year and will be the core of the team this year. They had a great summer and pre-season of work and I have been really impressed with some of the guys in pre-season. As a team, from top to bottom, they all want to be successful but more importantly, they want to win as a group and that is big time.“
Success this year for the Jr Dogs will not come without help from the 8th graders joining the team this season as well. Connor Beck, Scout Young, Chris Lopez, Brayden Mays, Kaden Rogers, Kason Davis, Noah Patrick, T.J. Olivares, and Steven Newman. “These guys have bought into this team and there will be opportunities for them to help us be successful.”
“I am excited for this team to start working towards some of the goals that they have set for themselves. We have been talking about climbing the ladder of success and how each step is just as valuable as the next and success is not achieved by skipping steps. We will tip-off Saturday in the Priority Bank Junior Invitational at Ozark against a Mountainburg squad that is always well-coached, so we will have to be ready to go.” Â
