mwynn05
11-12-2006, 05:35 PM
Great expectations
No. 12 Fairfield returns four starters from 29-6 season
By Tony Marquis
Fairfield coach Joey Worley has a big job ahead of him.
The eight-year coach of the Eagles will have to deflect his players’ attention from the preseason polls, Web sites and basketball magazines that have his boys basketball team ranked as one of Class 3A’s best this season.
The Web site texashoops.com ranked Fairfield No. 7. The well-respected Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll has Fairfield ranked 12th in its preseason poll.
But Worley isn’t too worried. After all, this same team has dealt with rankings and expectations before.
The Eagles, who finished 29-6 last season and made it to the regional quarterfinals, return eight players, including four starters from that playoff team. According to Worley, it’s Fairfield’s experience that has earned his Eagles their best preseason ranking since he started working as an assistant coach 20 years ago.
“It’s just one of the things that come with having a lot of kids back,” said Worley of the ranking. “They have seen them, and know them and kind of expected them. Everybody’s going to be gunning for us.”
Fortunately, Fairfield hasn’t had much of a chance to think about preseason rankings because most of the Eagles basketball team have been busy with a different sport.
“They all play football, so we haven’t talked to them about it yet,” Worley said.
Last year’s returning starters, Nolan Melontree, Alfraid Manning, Jarrett Manning and Billy McMillian all play football, which wrapped up its season Friday.
While getting to the gym late may be a disadvantage for some teams, Fairfield doesn’t need gym time to work better as a team.
The five seniors — Melontree, the Manning brothers, McMillian and Malcolm Woodruff — have played together since they were sophomores and went 20-8 in 2004-05. The four starters all averaged in the double-digits for the regular season, led by Alfraid at 12 points per game.
“They all have ability to have big nights, which is good,” Worley said. “But there’s really not a single one that you can say, ‘we got to stop this guy.’”
With last year’s success, the Eagles have already dealt with high rankings — at one point in the season, Fairfield was ranked No. 7 in the TABC poll. Worley has also focused his efforts on building a team atmosphere by scheduling motivational speakers and taking trips to basketball clinics.
Worley’s hope is for the Eagles to make the state tournament for the first time since 1966.
“We have a chance. We have a lot of good kids,” Worley said. “Unfortunately in the district we’re in, if you don’t get after it, you’re out.”
District 19-3A is packed with talent. Mexia has won two state championships since 1999; Palestine made the move down from Class 4A this year and Madisonville made it to the regional semifinals last season. Fairfield also faces No. 7 Waco La Vega, Jan. 2, the team that knocked it out of the playoffs last season, beating the Eagles 60-56.
It’s a tough road ahead, but that doesn’t change Eagles’ goals or the polls.
“This is it,” Worley said. “There’s a lot of expectations on them — this is their last chance.”
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/sports/local_story_315232829.html
No. 12 Fairfield returns four starters from 29-6 season
By Tony Marquis
Fairfield coach Joey Worley has a big job ahead of him.
The eight-year coach of the Eagles will have to deflect his players’ attention from the preseason polls, Web sites and basketball magazines that have his boys basketball team ranked as one of Class 3A’s best this season.
The Web site texashoops.com ranked Fairfield No. 7. The well-respected Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll has Fairfield ranked 12th in its preseason poll.
But Worley isn’t too worried. After all, this same team has dealt with rankings and expectations before.
The Eagles, who finished 29-6 last season and made it to the regional quarterfinals, return eight players, including four starters from that playoff team. According to Worley, it’s Fairfield’s experience that has earned his Eagles their best preseason ranking since he started working as an assistant coach 20 years ago.
“It’s just one of the things that come with having a lot of kids back,” said Worley of the ranking. “They have seen them, and know them and kind of expected them. Everybody’s going to be gunning for us.”
Fortunately, Fairfield hasn’t had much of a chance to think about preseason rankings because most of the Eagles basketball team have been busy with a different sport.
“They all play football, so we haven’t talked to them about it yet,” Worley said.
Last year’s returning starters, Nolan Melontree, Alfraid Manning, Jarrett Manning and Billy McMillian all play football, which wrapped up its season Friday.
While getting to the gym late may be a disadvantage for some teams, Fairfield doesn’t need gym time to work better as a team.
The five seniors — Melontree, the Manning brothers, McMillian and Malcolm Woodruff — have played together since they were sophomores and went 20-8 in 2004-05. The four starters all averaged in the double-digits for the regular season, led by Alfraid at 12 points per game.
“They all have ability to have big nights, which is good,” Worley said. “But there’s really not a single one that you can say, ‘we got to stop this guy.’”
With last year’s success, the Eagles have already dealt with high rankings — at one point in the season, Fairfield was ranked No. 7 in the TABC poll. Worley has also focused his efforts on building a team atmosphere by scheduling motivational speakers and taking trips to basketball clinics.
Worley’s hope is for the Eagles to make the state tournament for the first time since 1966.
“We have a chance. We have a lot of good kids,” Worley said. “Unfortunately in the district we’re in, if you don’t get after it, you’re out.”
District 19-3A is packed with talent. Mexia has won two state championships since 1999; Palestine made the move down from Class 4A this year and Madisonville made it to the regional semifinals last season. Fairfield also faces No. 7 Waco La Vega, Jan. 2, the team that knocked it out of the playoffs last season, beating the Eagles 60-56.
It’s a tough road ahead, but that doesn’t change Eagles’ goals or the polls.
“This is it,” Worley said. “There’s a lot of expectations on them — this is their last chance.”
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/sports/local_story_315232829.html