Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff photo: Matthew Asher Dora senior Levi Bickham finishes a layup during Monday's practice. The Coyotes, who went 16-11 overall last season and reached the Class 2A state quarterfinals, open the 2015-16 season tonight with a game at Sundown, Texas.
Staff writer
DORA — Coming off a quarterfinal appearance in last season’s Class 2A state tournament, the Dora Coyotes hope to build on that success when they open the 2015-16 campaign today at Sundown, Texas.
link Staff photo: Matthew Asher
Dora senior Levi Bickham finishes a layup during Monday's practice. The Coyotes, who went 16-11 overall last season and reached the Class 2A state quarterfinals, open the 2015-16 season tonight with a game at Sundown, Texas.
Coach Kevin Lackey noted that all but two of the Coyotes’ 14 players return from last year’s team, which finished 16-11 overall and 3-5 for fourth place in District 6-2A.
“We’ve got a lot of young kids, both juniors and sophomores making up our varsity team,” Lackey said. “We only have three seniors this year.”
The seniors are forwards Dalton Privett and Sam McConnell and post Levi Bickham.
Lackey expects Privett to lead the team, and wants Bickham and McConnell to assume the other leadership roles.
Privett has high hopes for this year's squad.
“Our previous teams haven’t had as much size as we have this season,” he said. “We’re really deep in the post and we have a good backcourt, too.”
Five players are listed at 6-feet or taller, including all three seniors.
Lackey and his players are looking forward to the EPAC tournament as well as their district contests.
“District is when we find out how well we are with the top teams in the state,” Bickham said. “Fort Sumner’s going to be a big one for us. That’s one we have to win.”
Lackey expects the district to be highly competitive.
“Our district is loaded,” he said. “Last season, three of the top seven teams in the state tournament were from our district.”
What’s the best way to gain an advantage over district opponents? Putting in the time in the gym, of course.
“We lift every day before practice,” McConnell said. “Then there are drills before we go up and down the court. Then we start practice.”
Although the seniors are vital, Lackey knows there is only so much they can do.
“I told our underclassmen they’re going to dictate how far we go,” he said. “It’s going to be up to them to decide how hard they work as well as buying into our team concept.”
After tonight’s game, the Coyotes have more than a week off before hosting the three-day J.P. Stone tournament. Dora faces Tatum in the quarterfinal round.
