Southport has one of the most experienced teams in the state with seven seniors: (front) 5-9 David Reyes, 5-8 Terrell Caldwell; (middle row), 6-4 Kyle Williams, 6-10 Joey Brunk; (back) 6-3 Eli Walton, 6-5 Luke Johnston and 6-4 Evan Higgs. The Cardinals, ranked No. 1 in preseason polls, were 23-3 last season.
SOUTHPORT (23-3) – The sounds you hear throughout the state are the echoes emanating from Southport Fieldhouse … Cardinals coming off record season when they were ranked No. 1 in 4A and ran the table in Conference Indiana … packed the fieldhouse for historic one-two matchup against Evansville Reitz … must remove the Pike jinx to advance through sectional … lost four seniors to graduation, including outstanding guard Malik Bennett … loaded with seven seniors and four juniors … Joey Brunk and 6-3 junior guard Paul Scruggs (17.3 ppg, 7.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists) form solid inside-outside combo … Brunk has developed soft shooting touch … seniors Eli Walton (5.6 ppg) and Luke Johnston (3.2 ppg, 2.7 rebounds) add experience … 6-6 junior newcomer Sergiey Slaughter to have instant impact … seniors Evan Higgs, David Reyes, Kyle Williams and Terrell Caldwell plus juniors Blake Evans and 6-9 Dut Mabok can contribute … open against Jeffersonville at home tonight.
Coach’s comments: “We want to be No. 1 at the end of the state tourney – that’s our goal. We are going to be a team with changeable parts depending on what type of team we play. We have a lot of players in that 6-2 to 6-5 range with many different talents. We will be able to go big against big, small against small and small (quick) against big, if necessary. Inside, Joey Brunk continues to work hard and improve. Paul Scruggs is only a junior, but he is experienced in the back court. We have good leadership from Luke Johnston just as he showed during the football season. Being ranked No. 1 is a compliment to our players, our coaches, our students, our fans and our community.”
Coach’s comments: “We want to be No. 1 at the end of the state tourney – that’s our goal. We are going to be a team with changeable parts depending on what type of team we play. We have a lot of players in that 6-2 to 6-5 range with many different talents. We will be able to go big against big, small against small and small (quick) against big, if necessary. Inside, Joey Brunk continues to work hard and improve. Paul Scruggs is only a junior, but he is experienced in the back court. We have good leadership from Luke Johnston just as he showed during the football season. Being ranked No. 1 is a compliment to our players, our coaches, our students, our fans and our community.”
Southport has plenty of depth in juniors (front) Markee Lunn, Blake Evans, Paul Scruggs, Jamie Burnett; (back) Jason Dockery, Hunter Hightower, Sergiey Slaughter, Dylan Davidson and Dut Mabok.
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