BASKETBALL SEASON EARLY SEASON UPDATE

TOTAL DOMINATION BY THE TRIBE!

If the early season is any indication, this season's Gaffney boys basketball team is going to be great. The only close game has been their season opener at Dorman 51 to 46. The Cavaliers had already played four games and it was the season opener for the Indians. The Tribe then went into Byrnes and blew out the Rebels 104 to 67. The next game had the Tribe hosting the Boiling Springs Bulldogs, in their home opener, at The Burial Ground. They buried the Dogs 113 to 55. The next two games were the home rematches with Dorman and Byrnes. They defeated the Cavaliers 61 to 43 and the Rebels 84 to 67. Game number six, of the young season, had Union County coming to The Burial Ground and leaving with their stingers tucked between their legs, after a 111 to 55 Gaffney win.

The defending 4A State Champions are 6 and 0 and they have averaged beating their opponents 87.3 to 55.5. It has been TOTAL DOMINATION BY THE TRIBE! The Indians will host the Substation 2 Invitational at The Burial Ground on Monday and Tuesday, December the 20th and 21st. Teams in the field are Gaffney, Woodruff, Chesnee and Spartanburg Christian Academy. The Tribe will then take a break for Christmas before traveling over to Dorman on December 27, 28 and 29 for the Upwards Classic.

TRIBE NEWS..... The Cherokee County School Board has voted to make Dan Jones the permanent Head Football Coach and Mark Huff the permanent Athletic Director. They both had been the Interims, in those two jobs, since the resignation of Phil Strickland back in the spring of 2010.

TRIBE NEWS..... Gaffney QB DeEdward Burris played well in South Carolina's 42 to 10 victory over North Carolina in the 2010 Shrine Bowl of the Carolina's. Burris was 2 for 2 passing for 19 yards and a TD pass. He also had 16 yards rushing on four carries and two tackles on special teams. He showed that he is an outstanding athlete and would be a great signee for any college program.

This will be the final Tribe Blitz of 2010, we will be back after the holidays on January 5, 2011.

Until Next Time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

THE 2010-11 BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

When last we talked about Gaffney basketball, the Indians had just wrapped up a 26 and 2 season and a 4A State Basketball Championship. The Tribe defeated Lexington 71 to 57, back on March 5th 2010. It was the Gaffney Indians 4th 4A State Basketball Championship in 8 years. So how does the 2010-2011 edition of the Indians look? Lets find out.

GAFFNEY BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Gaffney Indians will start the 2010-11 basketball season in the same position that they ended last season, Ranked Number 1 in the State in 4A. Lets first look at who the Tribe lost off of last years championship team. They lost South Carolina Player of the Year Josh Corry, starting post player Chase Smith, their tallest player, in 6'4" back-up post player, Bo Wray and shifty starting wing player Dominique Byers. These players will be hard to replace.

Lets look at who the Tribe returns from last season. They return their floor leader in point guard Dershawn Dawkins, who excelled last season especially during the championship run, last season's 6'3" Soph sensation Quinshad Davis, last season's 6'4" 8th grader L.J. Peak, who starred during the championship run, 6'0" wing player William Smith, 6'1" wing player Zevonta Shands, 6'3" post player Chase Wright and 6'2" swing player Michael Wright. Dershawn Dawkins is the player that will make the Indians offense go, as he has been named as an "Elite 5" player in the state of South Carolina this season. So the Tribe returns 7 players from last season's State Championship team.

Lets look at this season's newcomers. You have Ron Best, Tee Hardy, 9th grader Shaquille Davidson, O'Bryant Davidson and Coby McDowell. These young players will step into reserve rolls. Depth is a key to Gaffney's success at running their full court defensive game. So some of these newcomers could play key stretches during the season.

Projected Starting Line-up..... 6'4" Quinshad Davis and 6'3" L.J. Peak at the Post positions. The Wing positions should be 6'1" Zevonta Shands and 6' William Smith. The Point Guard will be 5'11" Dershawn Dawkins.

Keys to the Season..... (1) Find a consistent three point shooter and scorer to pick up the scoring slack from the loss of Josh Corry. (2) Last season's roll players Shands, Smith, Michael Wright and Chase Wright adapting to bigger and more productive rolls this season. (3) The continued development of big young guys Quinshad Davis and L.J. Peak. (4) Some of the newcomers to play key productive minutes. (5) Defense to step it up a couple of notches, especially early in the season till offense comes around.

Season Outlook..... I look for the Gaffney Indians to be very good and to improve as the season goes along. I would be shocked if they are not playing in Columbia, the first Friday in March, for another shot at a State Championship.

The Region 3 4A Outlook..... This looks to be a very strong region. Lancaster is very good and ranked in the Top 10. Northwestern is very good and Spartanburg moves into Region 3 and they will have a new Head Coach and should be good. Rock Hill should be pretty good and Clover is an improved team.

It should be another exciting High School basketball season for the Gaffney Indians. See you at The Burial Ground.

Until Next Time.