Sports - November 2003

Wright preaches team comes first

Published November 21, 2003

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, Staff Writer

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West Lincoln Rebels head coach Chad Wright picked up his first win at West Lincoln Tuesday night against the North Lincoln Knights.

 The coach was very pleased with the result.

“It felt real good. It was good to see the kids gain a lot of confidence by playing the right way. It would’ve been easy in that ball game to get away from the team concept, but our kids played within the system the entire game,” he said.

Wright believes that the 77-49 win over the Knights could give his team much needed positive momentum to start the season.

“I believe this team can be a good competitive ball club and that win was the first step in reaffirming that,” he said.

Wright was happy with his team’s play in their first outing.

“The biggest thing was that every single player had at least one assist. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of that on any team at any level doing that. Every person shared the basketball,” he said.

Teamwork helped make the game a success.

“I really like their work ethic and the fact that so far they seem to be buying into our constant preaching on the team concept. It’s one thing to have the head knowledge of playing as a team, but it’s another thing to actually practice that,” Wright said.

Wright said the team needs to improve on defense.

“We still got a long way to go in terms of defensive technique and positioning, although I was really pleased with our first half against North Lincoln. That’s one thing that we’re going to have to do real well this year to be competitive is to play good team defense,” he said.

The coach is very happy with one player for setting an example for his teammates.

“I really like Ty Curtis’s leadership. “He’s been real positive and vocal and that’s important to have someone on the floor to be that leader for you,” Wright said.

Matt Edwards does the little things that may not show up in the box score.

He’s the kind of player that every coach loves. He does all of those little things for you, but those little things equate into winning,” he said.

B.J. Holland and Chase Caldwell are two Rebels that perform on both sides of the floor.

“I’m real proud of them because they are expending a lot of energy on the defensive end of the floor. To me that unselfishness and that sacrifice they’re making is going to be crucial for us as progress through the year. What makes them special is that they are both good shooters and a lot of times good shooters try to save their legs on the defensive end of the floor, but they don’t do that,” Wright said.

Matt Cook was a force on the boards against the Knights picking up nine in the game. He ‘will be an important sparkplug for the Rebels off the bench,’ according to his coach.

Two Rebels, Ryan Huffman and Taylor Woodie, will serve as the cogs that will make the engine go.

“They are both smart basketball players with a good basketball IQ and as they go, we’ll go,” Wright said.

Wright said four other players that will contribute to any success the Rebels may earn. Gene Arp is seen as an excellent defender. Ben Poole is an athletic freshman and Jake Elmore, a senior center and Josh Fisher, a junior, will spell Curtis to give the Rebels ‘a three-headed monster.’

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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