English, Bulldogs look to the future

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English, Bulldogs look to the future

By Cody Pastorella

The Port Arthur News

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of stories on area boys basketball teams.

The Nederland Bulldogs have gotten a step closer to the playoffs every season under head coach Brian English, who is in his third year with the program.

The Bulldogs posted five district wins in English's first season with Nederland. In 2007-08, the Dogs improved that mark to six, going 6-8 in league play. Nederland was right in the thick of things heading into the final three games last season but could not overcome Vidor or Central down the stretch to make the jump into the postseason, a place the Bulldogs have not been since 1993.

Now, with the addition of a fourth playoff team to all Class 4A sports, Nederland has actually emerged as legitimate contender and has even been slated to place fourth by TexPrepsBasketball.

Nederland was picked to finish behind District 20-4A favorite Ozen, Central and Vidor, with Livingston, Little Cypress-Mauriceville, Port Neches-Groves and Lumberton dubbed to trail the Bulldogs.

English said the expectations are certainly higher.

"Anytime you have key starters coming back, I think the expectations are always going to be higher. And this is the third year here. Everything we've done the last two years has us going in the right direction, so each year you have to expect a little more," English said.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the increased expectations is 6-1 senior forward Chris Hammond. An unanimous first team all-district selection as well as a Port Arthur News/James Gamble Award All-Star, Hammond averaged 18.4 points in district play last season. He also led the Bulldogs with 7.1 rebounds per game.

Sophomore post Dionte Forney is also a reason to be hopeful in Nederland. Forney looks to be a stronger prescence down low for the Dogs, as he now has a year of experience from his freshman season on varsity. He averaged 8.4 points per game and hauled in 6.4 rebounds as a freshman.

In all, Nederland has six returners from last season's varsity squad. That list includes Evan Fitch, Francis Torres, Josh Dean and Jordan Pitts. Torres, a point guard, averaged 10.8 points per game, as well as six assists. Pitts tallied 5.1 points per contest.

Nederland's newcomers include Ryan Hadnot, Devin Montgomery, Christian Stewart, Kelvin Smith, Dylan Campbell, and Jeromie Grammer.

English said his new guys may not have varsity experience or great size but knows they are very capable defensively.

"We have some kids who can really move and will get after the ball. I feel very comfortable with our bench going into the season," English said.

As mentioned, Nederland's bench will not have great size. More importantly, Nederland will not be overly impressive with its size period. But that was something the Dogs dealt with a year ago.

Forney, at 6-5, is Nederland's tallest player. Dean and Hadnot are both 6-2.

Regardless of size, English feels as if the district race will be wideopen this season.

"Ozen and Central will be the favorites until someone knocks them off," English said. "But I don't feel like you can really count anyone out this season. I feel like the competition is going to be really high for all four playoff spots."

The key for Nederland, English said, will be learning how to win close games and having the confidence to win those close ones. English added that pulling out the tight games was something his team improved on a year ago. He said that will be a hump they will have to get over this season in order to make the playoffs.

The Bulldogs first game comes Tuesday at Barbers Hill. All Nederland's games, aside from tournament play, are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. The Dogs first home game will be Nov. 24 against West Orange-Stark.

Nederland will also play in three tournaments this season, including the annual NHS Bulldog Classic Dec. 4-6. Nederland will also play in the YMBL tournament as well as the Gulf Coast Invitational.

The Dogs first district contest will be Dec .19 at Ozen.

English said he feels his team's non-district schedule will be competitive.

"We've tried to make it a little tougher every year. I like our schedule this season. I think there will be plenty to build on leading up to district," English said.