A new coach with a new game plan is taking over boys basketball. A 2017 Wayne graduate, Jackson Embry, will make his head coaching debut when the Bulldogs hit the court after Thanksgiving.
Embry, a three year graduate assistant for the football team and a two year graduate assistant for the basketball team, has changed the focus for this year’s team.
“We’re preaching defense this year. We’ll play man to man and physical full-court pressure,” Embry said.
The head coach has made it his mission to teach his guys that basketball is a sport that takes consistent hard work.
“The guys are buying in to the new culture we’re creating. Basketball is an everyday thing. You have to work at it every day. They have jumped right in and and are up to the challenge.”
With only one senior lost to graduation off of last year’s team, Embry and the Bulldogs are stacked with experience.
Starters Ethan Mullins, Kaleb Madden, Brannon Lewelling, Jr. Perez and Andy Lee have several years of experience between them.
Joining them in the starting lineup will also be senior Dom Sampson who will split time with Perez, depending on match ups.
Embry also mentioned that sophomores Wyatt Webster and Bradey Vanschuyver and freshman Jaxon Dill will be helpers off the bench.
As usual, Wayne has a tough schedule lined up. Right off the bat, they face Elmore City (depending on football playoffs). Also slated for December are tough road games with Minco and Earlsboro. The Bulldogs also travel to Vanoss, a top three team, in January.
Last year the Bulldogs finished with an 8-15 record.
“In the past we’ve lost games because of defense. This year we have the guys to utilize man defense.
“Our scorers are going to score a lot of points and our defense will run through Kaleb and Ethan. How they do pressuring the ball will dictate our defense,” Embry said.
The Bulldogs take the court Tuesday November 30 with a 6:30 tip for the girls, followed by the boys.
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