By By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Nov. 7, 2001
Lamar School has a new basketball coach in Mississippi State graduate Tristan Howell. The new coach is so new, he still hasn't seen his full club play together.
Part of the problem is that most of the Raiders upcoming basketball team is still playing football.
In order to help Howell and his team make the transition to basketball, the Raiders' season opener has been pushed back to Nov. 27 when they take on Leake Academy.
Currently, the Raiders have just five players working. Twelve more are playing football.
Three of the five who have been with Howell for the past week or so, will be counted on to lead the team in the 2001-02 season.
Senior forward Justin Mitchell is considered a mainstay of the team. He and junior Quinton Brown will be counted on heavily while senior Cooper Huff will also contribute.
Mitchell is 6-foot-3 and will play at forward. Joe Bryant is a senior who didn't play last year while sophomore David Haggard rounds out the hard-working five.
When football ends, the Raiders will get a big lift from Roland Terry, a 6-foot-5 post. Derrick Smith and Zach Moore will also be a plus for the backcourt.
With their quickness, the Raiders should make a smooth transition in grasping Howell's basic strategy which will be based on pressure defense.
Jeff Byrd is a sports writer for the Meridian Star. He can be reached at 693-1551 or by e-mail at jbyrd@themeridianstar.com.