Coach says Tigers poised for future success

Troup's Charlie Ralph goes for a loose ball in the Tigers' 71-59 win over Waskom on Monday. The junior forward was part of a young varsity team which gained a lot of experience and confidence this season, despite ending with a 5-9 district record.

The numbers don't tell the whole story for the Tigers varsity basketball team in 2007-08.

A 5-9 district record doesn't reveal the hard work, experience and improvement that head coach Brent Smith feels his team accomplished during the difficult season.

"Record wise it doesn't look like we had a great year," said Smith. "Effort wise, I couldn't have asked for anything more, especially out of our young players. They came to practice everyday and worked their tails off to get better."

Smith also said that the 5-9 finish duplicates last year's record, produced by a team with a lot more experience than his current roster.

"By the end of the year we were starting four sophomores and a senior," he said, adding that he liked how the team was playing down the stretch. "We gained some real good experience and developed some confidence going into next season."

Finishing the year on a positive note with a 71-59 win over Waskom didn't hurt, as well as another 70-point win earlier over Timpson.

The Tigers lose just two seniors this year, Zach Childress and Reginald Wade. With the bulk of his team returning, Smith said improved fundamentals such as shooting and handling pressure should give the Tigers reason to be hopeful for a better finish next year.