AHS, CHS boys meet tonight

By MARK WILSON / Staff Writer

Aggression may be the name of the game when the Abilene High boys meet Cooper tonight in their first District 4-5A clash of the season.

"We want to continue to play our game plan, and try to attack them," said Cooper coach Greg Gober. "Both teams want to be aggressive. We just want to try and win that battle.

"It seems to me it's going to be a war. I know they're going to give us their very best."

Abilene High's first-year coach Jeff Evans said his team is still struggling for consistency, seeking to snap a two-game losing streak and improve on its 5-10 record.

"We played some pretty tough people in our non-district schedule, and played a bunch of them well," Evans said. "I thought in our last two games against Sweetwater and Hobbs (N.M.) we did some things better. Hopefully, the teams we played in non-district prepared us for district."

The Cougars are 10-5 after losing to unbeaten and seventh-ranked Lewisville, 66-44, in the championship game of the Grand Prairie tournament over the weekend. Cooper has won three straight district titles, and made six playoff appearances in a row.

"We still have a lot of room for improvement," Gober said. "In the tournament, we found out what would happen if we would execute. At the same time, we found out what would happen if we didn't.

"When our patience is good and we try to get a good shot, we end up being successful. When we force things, we haven't seen a lot of good come from that."

The Cougars are led offensively by 6-2 senior post Brandon Schmitz (13 points per game), point guard Arric Garrett (11.4) and forward Tony Roach (11.2). Schmitz, who also leads Cooper in rebounding with seven per game, scored a season-high 25 points in a win over Sweetwater last week.

Tim Hutchinson is also expected to start at forward. Gober said that the starter at the other guard spot will either be Kyle Scott, Josh Depauw or Chris Cherry.

For the Eagles, 6-5 senior post John Lackey and guard Ryan Cavazos are tied for the team scoring lead with 12 points a game, and Lackey averages a team-high nine rebounds. Lackey scored a season-high 28 points against San Antonio Jay in the Key City Tournament.

Also for Abilene High, Eric Phelps will start at point guard, Marcus Eckert will be at forward, and Brian Bammel will be at post. Odis Dalton, a 6-4 reserve post, leads the Eagles with an average of 11 per game. Kris Brown, a 6-2 forward who started in Eckert's spot earlier in the season, averages just under six points a game coming off the bench.

The last outing for the Eagles was a 94-90 loss to Hobbs, in which Dalton scored 22 points.

Evans has been pleased with his team's improved rebounding, but still wants to see the Eagles learn how to put opponents away.

"Rebounding is certainly something we've improved on," Evans said. "Early in the year, we were not doing well at all. We almost doubled Hobbs' rebounds. And our half-court defense has continued to get better, and I think we're doing a better job in transition."

The battle on the boards could be a key, according to Evans.

"I think they do a great job of going to the boards," the AHS coach said. "For us to have a chance, we've got to block them out. We have to be able to execute against them, and get good shots. I think they're quick and aggressive, and the type of team that can take you out of your game."

Gober said the Cougars must avoid having even a single bad quarter.

"We need to put four quarters together," Gober said. "As long as we do that, we play pretty good." AHS boys vs. Cooper

-- When: 7:30 p.m.

-- Where: ACU's Moody Coliseum

-- Records: Abilene High 5-10, 0-0; Cooper 10-5, 0-0

Probable starters

Abilene High boys - Eric Phelps, 5-11, Sr.; Ryan Cavazos, 5-11, Sr.; Marcus Eckert, 6-1, Soph.; John Lackey, 6-5, Sr.; Brian Bammel, 6-2, Sr.

Cooper boys - Brandon Schmitz, 6-2, Sr.; Aric Garrett, 6-1, Sr.; Tony Roach, 6-4, Sr.; Tim Hutchinson, 6-2, Sr.; and either Kyle Scott, 6-4, Jr., Josh Depauw, 5-8, Jr., or Chris Cherry, 5-10, Sr.