Published: November 09, 2009 09:42 pm      

Lady Tigers basketball: Prevost already sets lofty goals

New Corsicana coach plans on first playoff trip since 1993

New Lady Tigers basketball coach Art Prevost gathered his team around him Monday — the varsity, junior varsity and freshmen — and told them that’s he already claimed one of the four playoff spots in 16-4A.

Corsicana opens its season at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Red Oak. The Lady Tigers haven’t made the playoffs since 1993.

It’s a pretty bold promise with teams like Waco Midway, Waxahachie and Cleburne in your district.

But Prevost is a bold person. He has a can-do attitude.

It’s refreshing, and it’s hard not to believe him after listening to him address his players.

After practice, Prevost was at the pulpit again.

“Call me dumb, call me over-ambitious, call me a dreamer, you can call me what you want,” Prevost said, “If you lower the bar, they play below the bar. I don’t want to do that. I didn’t get hired to do that.

“Football is a prime example. They were picked fifth, they got it. I just know there are four spots and I’ve claimed one of those four spots.”

So how exactly is Prevost going get this done, considering last year’s team had playoff talent and finished the season 13-17 overall and 5-9 in district?

He’s stressing defense. He’s stressing teamwork. Mostly he wants his players not be scared of Midway and Waxahachie.

His energy — and Prevost has a lot of it — has emboldened a basketball program that has double the numbers it had last season.

“He makes my day every day,” senior guard Tauren Kitchen said.

The players insist Prevost’s lofty expectations are cool with them.

“Its going to make us work harder,” senior guard Jackie Saipongi. “We want it as bad as he does.”

The players need that attitude playing for a coach who wants to hold teams under 45 or 50 points.

“The more times we hold teams under 40, the more we’re going to win,” Prevost said. “That has to be our M.O. That’s me.”

Prevost said with his post play still developing, the Lady Tigers will have to guard 75 of the 90-foot court. They’ll do that playing zone and a full court press.

“Defensively, if you watch us practice, we have a concept,” Prevost said. “We’re good at guarding the ball but we’re very high risk. We’re athletic on the outside. Our kids take chances. When we play good teams, they can make you pay. But you have to play that way.”

Prevost installed a new offense Monday after seeing his team scrimmage on Saturday. They will go with a more motion-oriented offense to take advantage of their guard play, especially point guard Amber Ames.

“I wanted to give my guards more freedom so we’ll go with a motion offense,” Prevost said. “It gives our guards more freedom for back cuts and to read and react.”

Ames is the key if Prevost is going to make the playoffs this season. She was a second-team all-district pick last year, averaging about 10 or 11 points per game.

The Lady Tigers were not a structured team on offense last year, running at every opportunity. Prevost said he won’t limit Ames this year, but said he wants to be a disciplined team when it comes to the fast break.

“She gets it,” Prevost said. “She’s dynamic. It’s her team. She can create. She’s very coachable.

“I believe in coaching a system, and the kids know that. She’s grabbing the leadership.”

Prevost told his team during Monday’s post-practice speech that he wants them to play hard for 32 minutes and keep the games close. If so, he said he and assistants Marty and Charlie Nichols will take care of the rest.

“Hopefully I’ll put my kids in a situation where they’re successful,” Prevost said. “And if the game’s close, it’s my job to put us in a situation to win those games. If we can keep the games close, then I feel very confident that my assistants and I will put together a game plan to put them in a situation to be successful.”

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Lady Tigers schedule

Nov. 10 at Red Oak 6:30

Nov. 12-14 Lady Tiger Tourney

Nov. 17 at Forney TBA

Nov. 20 FW Nolan 6:30

Nov. 23 North Mesquite 7:30

Dec. 1 at Jacksonville 6:00

Dec. 3-5 at Scurry-Rosser Tourn.

Dec. 8 Waco Connally 6:30

Dec. 11 at Mes. Poteet 7:30

Dec. 15 Waxahachie* 8:00

Dec. 18 at Cleburne* 8:00

Dec. 22 Waco Univ.* 8:00

Dec. 28-30 Mansfield Tourn.

Jan. 5 at Waco Midway* 8:00

Jan. 12 at Ennis* 8:00

Jan. 15 Waco High* 8:00

Jan. 19 at Waxahachie* 8:00

Jan. 22 Cleburne* 8:00

Jan. 26 at Waco Univ* 8:00

Jan. 29 Waco Midway* 8:00

Feb. 2 at Midlothian* 8:00

Feb. 5 Ennis* 8:00

Feb. 9 at Waco High* 8:00

*Denotes District 16-4A Game