Wildcats set their sights on 30 wins

Members of the varsity Wildcats are, left to right, Spencer Hutchins, Luke Shivers, Kye Heck, Matt Bergman, Brady Parker, Cade Clark, Kody Molloy, Britt Martin, Kyle Ford, Tanner Fedell, Tyler Fisher, Chad Emmons and Mitch Marquis. Not pictured is Layne Tidwell. Also shown are managers Spencer Penka and Lee Caldwell and assitant coach Reid Gulley (front center). Not pictured are coaches Jason Shuck and Keith Ellis.

With all five starters back from a 28-6 season, anything less than 30 wins this year will a disappointment for the Whitehouse Wildcats, said head coach Wally Dawkins.

"When you have that many back, you expect them to be a good team again," said Dawkins.

"If we win 25 games this year, that's good for a lot of people, but it would be an under achievement for Whitehouse."

With the success of the boys program, it's only natural that expectations increase. The team has not had a losing season since Dawkins took over as head coach from the legendary C.L. Nix. Their 28 wins last year put them in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, boosting their record to six out of the last seven years, and 14 out of 18 seasons.

"They have to set their goals high, and they have," said Dawkins, adding that the team has another goal besides the 30-

win mark: advancing beyond the round of area, where they have stalled since changing from a 3A to 4A school.

"I feel this team could win 30 and get to the regional tournament," said Dawkins. "That's our goal."

Helping the Cats meet their expectations will be a lot of experience and a lot of height.

Providing the experience are the five starters from last year, Cade Clark, Kyle Ford, Mitch Marquis, Luke Shivers and Brady Parker, plus lettermen Layne Tidwell and Chad Emmons.

In terms of height, the team has only two players under 6' - guards Tidwell and Marquis.

"The team is bigger this year. The kids have all grown," said Dawkins. "This is the tallest Whitehouse team in several years, maybe the tallest they've ever had."

Cade Clark and Kody Molloy lead the way at 6'6" followed by

Britt Martin at 6'5" and two players at 6"4" - Kyle Ford and Brady Parker.

Offensively, Dawkins said his team will look for a more uptempo game this year. "We haven't run as much since '02, because we didn't have the athletes," relying instead on a halfcourt game with set-up shots, he said.

"We'll still try and take good shots, but get the shots quicker and hopefully still play good defense," said Dawkins.

The Wildcat defense was ranked first in East Texas last year. Though the squad may give up more points this year, typical of a high-tempo playing style, their defensive strength is simple:

"Long arms and legs," said Dawkins with a smile. "Regardless of what defense we run, the fact is these kids are longer and stronger." Offensively, Dawkins is confident

in his player's shooting ability. "Kyle Ford is one of the best I've ever coached," he said, also citing Marquis, Parker, Clark and Shivers. "And inside, we play well around the basket."

Clark, Molloy, Emmons and Martin are the stand-outs in the paint, said Dawkins.

"The inside/outside punch this year will help us," said Dawkins.

If the team has a weakness, it would be lack of quickness overall, said Dawkins, adding that he also has concerns about the depth at point guard, or rather the "inexperienced depth" at that position, beyond starter Marquis.

Program-wise, depth is not a concern for the Wildcats, with last year's junior varsity and ninthgraders both posting undefeated district records last year.

"The kids come up and they expect to win," said Dawkins. "They want to win and keep the tradition going each year."