Enterprise likes to push it up the court

The Enterprise Wildcats have managed a 7-4 record so far, and the mark shows a bit of inconsistency the Wildcats have had so far this season.

Specifically, the inconsistency has appeared in the scoring column, according to Wildcats head coach Albert Weeden.
“We have inconsistency with some players. They will have nine points one night and two the next,” he said. “You have to bring the same intensity every night.”

The intensity will need to be at a high level Dec. 26 when the Wildcats face Class 3A’s No. 3-ranked Abbeville Yellow Jackets in the first round of the Dothan Eagle/Dothan Progress/Southern Star Holiday Prep Classic presented by The Cochran Firm.

“I like our draw because Abbeville is one of those teams that press and trap, and we need to see that,” Weeden said. “Abbeville is similar to us in defensive strategy, and they like to push the ball up the floor like us.”

Weeden said while he likes to play teams similar to the Wildcats’ style, he added his team does better against slower, more post-oriented teams.

“We do better against teams that are bigger. We can run more ... use our speed and quickness,” Weeden said.
The Wildcats play on a collegiate court at Enterprise-Ozark Community College, which is 94 feet.

The floor at the Ozark Civic Center is the same size, which is 10 feet longer than a traditional high school floor.
While that might give an advantage to the Wildcats in some games, Weeden does not expect that to be the case against Abbeville.

“They’re in shape. That’s what they do — run,” he said. “We’ve got to execute and handle the pressure.”

Weeden said if players are having “off nights” in scoring, they can and must “still rebound, defend and make assists.”
He reiterated the intensity must not slow in a poor offensive night.

“If we say a kid is soft, we can show it on the (statistics) sheet in rebounds and free throw shots,” he said.

Leading the Wildcats offensively is senior forward Tony Gray, who is averaging 19.3 points per game.

Freshman guard Rhett Harrelson averages 16.3 points per contest.

In recent games, Brandon Hart has performed well, averaging 16 points per contest in the last three games.