Blue Devil Hoops Classic tips off Friday at Lehr Arena

Blue Devil Hoops Classic tips off Friday at Lehr Arena

West Memphis gearing up for home opener

West Memphis School District With a couple of regularseason games now under their belt, the West Memphis boys basketball team is ready to showcase its talent to the home folks. The Blue Devils, 2-0 after last weekend's New Madrid (Mo.) Classic, will host five other teams this weekend in the annual Blue Devil Classic.

With more than 500 career wins on the ledger, West Memphis head coach Larry Bray, in his 32nd year at the helm, will trot out an interesting roster of talent this season.

Bray normally doesn't stick with one starting lineup this early in the season, but as the season progresses he will likely insert a sophomore, Cavin Paige, to run the show at point guard.

And for the first time ever, Bray moved up a ninth-grader to play for his varsity. Six-foot-5 Chris Moore will be a regular starter, at least by conference time, and he's loaded with ability.

Action on Friday night at Lehr Arena gets under way with a junior varsity game between West Memphis and Nettleton at 5 p.m., followed by Nettleton versus Houston High of Memphis at 6:30 p.m. and the Blue Devils battle O.D. Wyatt High of Fort Worth, Texas at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, the action kicks off with another JV game between the Blue Devils and Osceola at 4 p.m. Earle will face off against Nettleton at 5:30 p.m. while Osceola battles Marion at 7 p.m. and capping off the evening will be the Blue Devils against Houston at 8:30 p.m.

Bray's team this year will not just feature two younger players with excitable potential, but he will be blessed with several interchangeable parts this season. Five players who will be in the playing rotation have the ability to play more than one spot on the floor.

'We just have a lot of good basketball players,' said Bray, whose team went 17-12 last season, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Class 7A state tournament.

'We're going to play up and down this season with a fast tempo most of the time. Right now we've got a group of guys that can play different positions and in the type of offense we run, they'll be in different positions from time to time.'

Paige is expected to remind fans of former Blue Devil great Mark Mangum, who led his teams to two consecutive state championships in 2004-05. Paige is listed at 5-foot-5, but he has great passing and ballhandling skills.

'I feel pretty comfortable when Cavin's on the floor,' said Bray. 'They folks at New Madrid found out they can't press him. I think before he's through here he'll be a great one.'

Moore is garnering interest from Division-1 colleges, most notably the Arkansas Razorbacks. He handles the ball well, has a knack for scoring and can crash the boards.

Plus, he's still in a growth spurt.

'We're not going to ask Chris to do more than he's capable of doing this year,' Bray said. 'We don't want to put excessive pressure on him. I think he'll be able to handle what we ask him to do.'

Although Bray said his starting lineup will evolve as the season progresses, there is a definite group of players to choose from.

Seven juniors dot the rosters, including Kelsey Hubbard, who can play the wing and some point guard. Other juniors who will see extensive playing time include shooting guard Curtis Washington, Sidney Stinson, who will play some wing and point and one of the smallest post players you'll ever see in 6-foot Zachary Byrd, who is without question the team's most tenacious player.

'Byrd's best quality is his toughness and just how hard he attacks out there,' said Bray. 'He's absolutely fearless.'

The group of five seniors is led by versatile Damorious Hudson, who can play the wing and some power forward. Also, 6-5 twins Tevin and Devin Mosley, both seniors, have stood out in the early season.

The Blue Devils dropped down in classification to 6A this season and will compete in a regular-season conference that includes Marion, Jonesboro, Forrest City, Blytheville, Wynne, Nettleton, Paragould, Valley View and Greene County Tech.

At the end of the regular season the Blue Devils will play in a district tournament against 6A teams Marion, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff, Little Rock Hall, Mountain Home, Jacksonville and Searcy in order to determine seeding for the Class 6A state tournament.

By Billy Woods