West Point basketball player Michael Carr takes a jump shot during the Green Wave's 2009 matchup against Starkville.  West Point will open their 2009-10 season Saturday against the Yellowjackets.  

By Kenneth Mister
Daily Times Leader

West Point basketball team to lean on defense.  

The West Point High School basketball season is set to kick off Saturday, Nov. 7 during the West Point Classic.  

After a 2008-09 season that saw the Green Wave lose numerous games by a few points, West Point has bunkered down and changed its outlook on basketball.  

 "We're trying to bring (in) a new style (by) stressing a lot of defense," second-year head coach Winston Varnado said.  "It's not hard to teach a kid offense because everyone wants to shoot.  But it's hard to get a kid to play defense and that's important."

One of the close games West Point lost just happened to be the first round of the North Half playoffs.  West Point fell 71-70 to Greenwood.  Hopefully, this season will be different, Varnado said.  

"We lost a lot of games in the last few minutes by not being very disciplined," he said.  "This year that's what we've been working on."  

With a year on the job under his belt, West Point could be something special, Varnado said.  

"My first year we had a lot of athletes," he said.  "But we weren't as good at basketball.  Me and Coach (Brad) Cox put in a lot of time and it's paying off."

"Last year I made the mistake of not coming in and working with them over the summer to eliminate players that didn't fit into my system," Varnado said.  "This year, we worked hard in a summer league in Starkville."

A new playing style won't be the only change West Point players will have to transition to.  West Point is in a new district - Class 5A.  The district includes New Hope, Oxford and Saltillo.  

Being in a district with only four teams brings high expectations, Varnado said.  

"I want to be No. 1 or 2," he said.

Varnado isn't the only one with high hopes.  

"I expect us to go all the way this year," sophomore guard Cortex Malone said.  "Because we have a better team and better chemistry."

Before the Green Wave can fully expose their talents, they'll have to wait until the 9-1 West Point football team concludes it's season.  Six of Varnado's players are on the football team.  

"This is a football town and there's no question about that," he said.

One of the football players who made a name for himself on the basketball court last season was Vontarrius Dora.  After being a reserve for more than half the season, Dora exploded onto the scene, Varnado said.  

"I think he could have did it all the time, but I didn't play him," he said.  "After that he began starting.  The last six or seven games, he showed me a lot."

Another phenomenal athlete Varnado will have to do without until the end of football season is Mississippi State football commit Michael Carr.  

"What Mike can't do, that's the question you have to ask," Varnado said.  "He's a complete athlete.  I think he could get a Division 1 basketball scholarship if he was strictly a point guard at his size."

West Point, however, isn't the only team Varnado expects a lot from.  Varnado, who is the father of Jarvis Varnado, said the Mississippi State men's basketball team has what it takes to make a deep run in 2009-10.  

"They have a lot of experience coming back," he said.  "And you can't substitute for experience.  They've been through the wars, so they'll do great this year with or without (Renardo) Sidney."  

The West Point Classic is set to begin at 11 a.m. with Noxubee Lady Tigers facing West Oktibbeha.  The boy's game will follow at 12:30.  West Point will battle rival Starkville at 2 p.m. (girls) and 3:30 (boys).  

West Point boy's roster:  James Caldwell, Michael Carr, Vontarrius Dora, Willie Edward, Laquante Gaston, Eric Holder, Gary Hughes, Arrington Lenoir, Cortez Malone, Lakin Ford, Jamarius Tallie, Daryl Thomas, Jaquille White, jamar Wicks, and RaMario Williams. 

Lady Wave

Like the West Point boy's basketball team, the Lady Green Wave saw their 2008-09 season come to a close after a tough loss.  The Lady Green Wave lost 62-60 to Lafayette in the first round of the North Half 4A tournament. 

Thankfully for the Green Wave, they return all but two players.  One of those players is junior guard Kelsei Ewings, who averaged 22 points last season.  West Point defensive extraordinaire Kourtney Crowley also returns.  Crowley averaged 15.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 1.7 steals per game last season. 

Although the Lady Green Wave return a host of players, the team is still improving, third-year head coach Jemmye Helms said. 

"We have to get the post more involved," she said.  "I have some that like to get out and shoot the three, but I have get some that like to bang in there."

West Point, who went 18-10 last season, now play in Class 5A along with Oxford, Saltillo and New Hope. 

Helms said they have seen what New Hope can do and expects to compete within the division. 

"I think we'll be competitive with Saltillo and Oxford," she said. "I think we should be better than last year, provided we don't lose focus.  I see us going further than last year - going to North Half tournament." 

In order to succeed, the Lady Green Wave will have dominate at what they do best, Helms said. 

"We like to run the floor," she said.  "We score a lot in transition and we pressure the ball hard on defense.  (The players) like all the high-intensity type things.  We like to trap and jump.  We can also shoot the ball pretty well from outside."

West Point probable starters:  Kelsei Ewings, Kourtney Crowley, Yakira Edwards, Ashley Spraggins and Tiffany Rupert. 

Reserves:  Wilma Davis, Adrianna Billups, Nekeisha Walker, Santonya Cantrell, Taylor McCrary and Ashley Robertson. 

Assistant Coach:  Rosezella Reese