ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 13, 1996 TAG: 9612130037
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: BILL RAY STAFF WRITER
Though this year's Pulaski County High School boys' basketball team is the most athletically talented he has worked with in his 20-plus-year career, coach Pat Burns is still concerned.
"This is the first year in my entire career that I haven't had a set captain," Burns said. "We had to take four freshman off the JV who are now sophomores, but I think we have a good foundation. In the next few years we will have more balanced teams, without having to pull up underclassmen."
In addition to its youth, the team also lacks a great deal of experience, as two of the team's top players sat out last season. Junior Robert Rogers, one of the most talented members of the squad, and senior J.R. Brown both opted to take the last winter off.
"Last season J.R. came out of football a little beat up," Burns said, "and Rogers nearly cut his arm off falling through a window, so neither of them saw time last year."
Rogers is currently sitting out because of a broken collarbone he suffered during after-practice horseplay last week.
But despite being a little green, the Cougars have posted a 2-0 record behind the strong play of sophomore standout Dorian Hendricks and senior Ronald Branch. Last season Hendricks was selected to the All-Roanoke Valley District team as a freshman, and his statistics speak for themselves as he averaged around 12 points a game, while pulling down six rebounds.
"Last season there were people on this team that carried me and taught me how to play good basketball," Hendricks said. "This year I want to be able to do that for some of the other players."
Without a true big man, much of Pulaski's scoring will fall on Hendricks' shoulders this season, especially in the early going. Because of the perennial success of the Cougar football team, Burns and company had to wait for most of their talent to finish playing on the gridiron before hitting the hard court. This season was no exception, as the team managed only three practices together before being thrown into their first game.
"We do get a late start every year because of football," Branch said. "It just takes a little time to get together as a team. But I think this team definitely is good enough to have a chance to win state."
To accomplish this lofty goal, the team will first have to make it out of a very competitive district. Burns says that this season the parity in the Roanoke Valley District is as good as he has seen it. Along with annual powerhouses William Fleming and Patrick Henry, this time around Cave Spring and Franklin County will also be tough competition. Pulaski is especially motivated to do well this season, as they were the district punching bag last year, going 0-8 in district.
"Everybody just has to come together and play as a team," Hendricks said. "If we do that we can stand up to any challenge. I know I don't have to come out and be a star every night because I have Ronald [Branch] and Craig [Hodge] to pick it up if I have an off night."
With a two spot in the win column and a tough district schedule ahead, Burns feels confident that as his team matures, it already has one crucial ingredient that can lead only to success.
"I think these two wins have shown that this team can play with a lot of heart," Burns said. "At one point in the first game we were down by 14 and came back. These guys will play hard for you. Sometimes they wonder why I push them so hard, and it is only because I know how good they can be."
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON Staff. Last season Dorian Hendricks (right)by CNBwas selected to the All-Roanoke Valley District team as a freshman.