The Greenwood varsity boys basketball team has played just three games so far this fall, but the progress from last season is already obvious. And now the improving Bulldogs are about to get a huge boost from a wave of players coming out from football, including several players with starting experience.
Football season ended last Saturday with Greenwood's heartbreaking loss to Russellville in the 6A state title game in Little Rock. But past gridiron success over the past two decades has often meant a slow start for the basketball team, which usually has to wait for several key players to make the transition from football to the hard court.
GHS Head Coach Greg Nichols will see his roster greatly expanded over the next several days as the footballers report for practice after a few days off. But Nichols is more than happy to wait for the new arrivals, knowing that their success in football sets a good example for a basketball program trying to return to prominence after back-to-back four-win seasons.
"I've always believed that success breeds success," he said, "so if the football team wins, then the kids that come from there to basketball will know what it takes for us to win in basketball. That would be a leadership role that I think could be very valuable to us."
In his second year at the helm, Nichols is pleased to know that his team will soon be at full strength, though it will take time for the new arrivals to get into basketball shape. The coach has been limited to using just seven players in the team's first three varsity games. Despite that fact, the Bulldogs have been very competitive against all three opponents.
Early Games
Greenwood opened its season on the road at Class 4A Waldron, posting a 55-46 victory. The 'Dogs were led in scoring by senior guard Alec Armstrong with 16 points. Senior forward Trevor Loveday added 14 points, and newcomer Jordan Sheppard scored 12 points. Sheppard is a junior guard who attended Fort Smith Southside before moving to Greenwood.
Last week the Bulldogs opened their home schedule against Class 7A Springdale. The same teams played last year at Springdale with the home team winning big in a blowout.
But last week's contest at H.B. Stewart Arena was much different. Greenwood led throughout the first half, getting off to a 10-3 lead before finishing with a 6-0 run for a 28-22 advantage at the break.
Springdale rallied in the second half, using its superior depth to take a 41-38 lead after three quarters. A bucket by Greenwood's Trevor Loveday tied the score at 45-all at the 4:50 mark of the fourth period, but Springdale pulled away after that to win 63-51, padding its margin at the free throw line.
Jordan Sheppard led the team in scoring with 15 points, battling through early foul trouble. Sophomore forward Josh Teeter-Jones added 12 points. Alec Armstrong and junior guard Ronin Stewart scored seven points each.
"I thought we did some things pretty well," said Nichols after the Springdale loss. "[But] we got tired in the fourth quarter. I'm playing seven kids and [Springdale] played 10, and that's quite a difference. I only substituted a few times to let them catch their breath.
"But overall I was pleased with the way we played," said the coach. "I was disappointed with the amount of turnovers we had, [but] I think that goes back to us being tired.
"I've got to keep telling myself to be patient with these kids," he continued. "I think once we get everybody in the gym, and we can run them in and out and let them catch their breath, and let them go hard on the floor, we'll be alright.
"The Springdale coach said to me after the game, 'These kids have improved drastically in one year,' and that was a compliment to our program, and I appreciate him saying it," said Nichols.
Idabel, Oklahoma
This past Monday the Bulldogs traveled across the border to Idabel, Oklahoma. Before coming to Greenwood, Coach Nichols spent many years on the bench in the Sooner State and still has numerous connections and relationships there.
But Idabel proved somewhat inhospitable to his Bulldogs, beating Greenwood 84-64 in a fast-paced, high-scoring game. The home team got off to a fast start and never looked back, leading 24-12 after one quarter and 44-32 at the half.
The Bulldogs managed to stay relatively close in the second half, trailing 62-48 after 24 minutes, but Idabel pulled away in the fourth quarter for the 20-point win.
Leading scorers for Greenwood included junior guard Jordan Sheppard with 20 points, sophomore forward Josh Teeter-Jones with 17 points, and junior guard Ronin Stewart with eight points.
Upcoming
The Bulldogs are playing this week in a tournament in Russellville, and will continue to be shorthanded as the football players report to practice over the next few days. The team will next co-host the H.B. Stewart Classic, along with the Lady Bulldogs, starting on December 15th. Participating teams include Morrilton, County Line, Providence Academy of Rogers, and Bentonville West.