GHS cagers to face Marshall, Bonham
November 16, 2010

By David Claybourn
Herald-Banner Sports Editor

Greenville's Lions will open their 2010-11 basketball season at Marshall tonight, while the Lady Lions make their home debut against Bonham.

Scheduled game times are at 5, 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. for the freshman, junior varsity and varsity games in Marshall and Greenville.

The Lions will have a new head coach and a virtually new lineup for their opener. Marcus Smith, who had been an assistant coach for the past four seasons, has moved up to head coach to take over for Earl Claiborne, who is now at Waller.

"Coming back to my alma mater to coach is very exciting," said Smith, who played basketball for the Lions from 1996 to 2000 under previous head coaches Dub Raper and Rusty Harden.

Blake Taylor, a 6-0 senior, is the only member off last season's 16-17 playoff team.

"We will be real young and inexperienced," said Smith. "The thing about it is they are a real hard-working team. We just got the football players out of football last week. We're trying to build that team chemistry."

Top players to watch for the Lions include juniors Kenneth Neal, Jeffro Davis and Sawyer Harmon, sophomores Marquist Davis and Dartanon Wilson and freshman Oshay Carter.

Smith said the Lions will push the tempo more this season.

"Our philosophy is full-court press defense," he said. "Play tough defense. Play smart offense. Just have fun out there."

Smith is asking the local community to "be patient" on the Lions.

"We're asking all alumni and fans to come see us play this year," he said.

Rob Williams, a 6-4 post player, is the top Marshall player to watch, according to Smith. Williams averaged 24 points per game last season.

The Mavs also have some quick guards ranging in height from 6-2 to 5-8.

Greenville's Lady Lions will play their second game after opening last week with a 55-31 loss at Commerce. Shanterria Riley led the Lady Lions with eight points and five steals.

MacKenzie Cooper added seven points, seven steals and six assists.

Lady Lions coach Lesa Darst said she doesn't know that much about Bonham's team.

"I know they got beat by Sherman," she said. "Sherman's a district opponent. I'm hoping they'll mix up their defenses a little bit so we'll get a look at man and zone."

Bonham is 0-2 for the season, having been beaten 66-13 by Sherman and 41-16 by Whitesboro.

Kaitlyn Fox and Julie Nguyen both scored four points to pace Bonham against Sherman.

Nguyen led Bonham against Whitesboro with six points.

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The Greenville Lions' home debut, which was scheduled for Friday against West Mesquite, has been pushed back to Saturday because of the football playoffs, Smith said.

Scheduled game times are at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. for the freshman, junior varsity and varsity contests.