ACCC men work for right team chemistry

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Sports

October 29, 2011 - 12:00 AM

Five returning sophomores, three transfer sophomores and five freshmen make up Allen County Community College’s Red Devil men’s basketball team for 2011-2012. Team chemistry is key for ACCC this season.
“Our strength is that we do have seven sophomores with playing experience in this conference. They know what it takes to be successful here. Their leadership is important to our success this season,” said Anwar Perry, as he starts his second year as head coach for the Red Devils.
“What is a concern for me is also a plus for our team. We have more talent than we’ve had before so people are battling to find their roles on the team. Team unity is a concern to start the season.”
Perry, who coached last year with interim after his name, has an assistant coach this season. Last year he was pretty much on his own stepping from assistant to head coach.
Andy Shaw was a member of the Oklahoma State University basketball team for two seasons. He served as a student assistant and graduate assistant for the Cowboy staff while working on his masters degree.
Shaw played high school basketball at Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Okla.
“I changed things up a bit for this season so our returning sophomores have had to learn just like the new guys. Andy is great and has provided some ideas for the program,” Perry said.
A year ago, the Red Devils went 8-23 overall. They were 4-14 in Jayhawk Eastern Division play.
In this week’s Jayhawk East coaches’ preseason poll, the Red Devils were put in eighth. Perry said that was ahead of Fort Scott and Labette.
“The conference is going to be tough from top to bottom. We have a deeper bench than we did last year,” Perry said. “We need to make progress every game and we’ll be alright.”
Allen County’s head coach sees where his team has advanced since practices started on Oct. 1 come Tuesday. The Red Devils tip off the new season on the road at Pratt Community College.
Back on the court for ACCC are sophomores Terrell Shears, a 6-7 forward, Thomas Daniel, a 6-8 post player, Rickey Hollis, a 6-10 point guard, Tyler Myrick, a 5-10 guard, and Jordan McDowell, a 6-2 guard. The three transfer sophomores are 6-3 guard Mychael Anderson, 5-10 guard Canon Fields and 6-5 forward Terrence Williams.
Shears was Allen County’s third leading scorer with 282 points and second leading rebounder with 198. He had 142 defensive rebounds.
Shears shot 48 percent from the field, hit 22 of 73 from three-point range and went 36 of 62 at the free-throw line. He had 31 steals, 14 blocked shots and 18 assists.
“I’ve asked more of Terrell this season. We want him to have a more dominant role offensively and defensively. He is listed among the top 100 junior college players this year,” Perry said.
“Thomas played in the low block last year and he’ll give us what he did last year – a big body inside. Thomas is working to get back into playing shape.”
Daniel scored 273 points and grabbed 158 rebounds last year. He shot 52 percent from the field and 61 percent from the line.
Hollis gives Allen County experience in the guard spot. He’s the starting point guard coming back. He fired in 190 points while shooting 37 percent from the field.
Hollis hit 22 of 87 attempts from three-point range. He tossed in 26 of 50 attempts from the line. Hollis dished out 59 assists and made 23 steals plus had 37 rebounds.
“By the end of the season, Rickey had stepped up in the role of point guard. He was tough defensively for us,” Perry said.
“Between Rickey and Canon, we’ll have a good guard combo to handle the ball. Rickey will play some at the No. 2 guard.”
Myrick worked his way onto the court last year simply by being the “hustle” guy, Perry said. Myrick came on defensively and helped the team a year ago.
He shot 31 percent from the field and 33 percent from the free-throw line. He had 15 assists, seven steals and 22 rebounds.
“Tyler has come the furthest since he walked in here last year,” Perry said. “He is a smart player on the court.”
McDowell saw little playing time last year because of injuries. He had knee surgery over the summer and remains hampered by the knee. Perry said he hoped McDowell could get healthy to add to the depth at guard.
Fields comes in as a proven point guard. He played at Cowley County Community College as a freshman out of Topeka Highland Park High School, where he was part of three state championship teams. Fields was a Jayhawk conference honorable mention player then red-shirted last year.
Fields transferred to ACCC last January. Perry said Fields knows the system and is a great ball handler.
Anderson played at Pratt Community College last year. Perry said Anderson does everything on the court and in practices to help lead the team. Anderson will play at the No. 2 guard spot and at the No. 3 forward position.
“Mychael is a great defensive player on the ball and away from the ball,” Perry said.
Williams comes to ACCC from Dodge City Community College. Perry said Williams is by far one of the underrated players coming in as he has made the most progress through the team’s three preseason scrimmages.
“We want him to rebound for us. That’s an area we weren’t very good in last year. It is a concern going into this season. We have to rebound better,” Perry said.
Freshmen on the squad are 6-3 guard Seth Walden of Iola, 6-8 post player Drelan Tripplet from Oklahoma City, Okla., 6-4 guard Tyrone Jones from Oklahoma City, 6-5 forward Chris Parker of Kansas City, Kan., 6-3 post player Sam Bautista and 6-1 guard Jeff Romeus from Boynton Beach, Fla.
“Our freshmen are making adjustments and finding roles,” Perry said.
Walden is an Iola High product who shot well from outside. He has good range and can hit the three.
“Seth is our sleeper player. He knows the game and can shoot it. He has gotten bigger and smarter as a player,” Perry said.
Romeus is an excellent three-point shooter – “one of best shooters we’ve seen from outside here,” Perry said. Parker came to ACCC in the summer and worked in the system. Perry said Parker is versatile playing at the forward spots to help ACCC rebound.
“Tyrone Jones has great athletic ability. He was a top 10 player out of Oklahoma in high school. He can jump. We expect him to contribute offensively with scoring and rebounding,” Perry said.
Tripplet brings a presence inside at 6-8. Perry said he was expecting good things at both ends of the court from Tripplet.
Baustista played baseball for ACCC last year and decided to come out for basketball this season. “He’s our punisher. He gets in the mix of things inside.
“We’re ready to play some real games,” Perry said.
Allen County Community College
2011-2012
Men’s Basketball Schedule
Nov. 1 – Pratt, 8 p.m.
Nov. 4 – Neosho County Panther Classic
ACCC vs. Cloud County, 4 p.m.
Nov. 5 – Neosho County Panther Classic
ACCC vs. Pratt, 2 p.m.
Nov. 8 – Hutchinson, 7 p.m.
Nov. 11 – ACCC Red Devil Classic
ACCC vs. Penn Valley, 8 p.m.
Nov. 12 – ACCC Red Devil Classic
ACCC vs. Butler, 8 p.m.
Nov. 22 – Pratt, 8 p.m.
Dec. 3 – Hesston, 8 p.m.
Dec. 5 – Southwestern College, 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 – Hutchinson Classic
ACCC vs. Hutchinson, 7:30 p.m.
10 – Hutchinson Classic
ACCC vs. K-State-Salina, 3:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 – Penn Valley, 7 p.m.
Jan. 4 – Kansas City, Kan., 7 p.m.
Jan. 7 – Fort Scott, 4 p.m.
Jan. 11 – Neosho County, 8 p.m.
Jan. 14 – Coffeyville, 8 p.m.
Jan. 18 – Independence, 8 p.m.
Jan. 21 – Labette, 8 p.m.
Jan. 25 – Cowley County, 6 p.m.
Jan. 28 – Highland, 8 p.m.
Feb. 1 – Johnson County, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 – Kansas City, Kan, 8 p.m.
Feb. 8 – Fort Scott, 8 p.m.
Feb. 11 – Neosho County, 8 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Coffeyville, 8 p.m.
Feb. 18 – Independence, 8 p.m.
Feb. 22 – Labette, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 – Cowley County, 8 p.m.
Feb. 29 – Highland, 7 p.m.
March 3 – Johnson County, 8 p.m.
March 6 – Region VI playoffs
March 9-12 – Region VI tournament, Wichita

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