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 Jan 31-09

Runnin' Bulldogs basketball: Stunned

San Jac's late shot dooms Navarro, 61-60
By Todd Wills
Corsicana Daily Sun

Corsicana — For 39 minutes and 56 seconds, No. 18 Navarro had a stout defensive effort Saturday against No. 12 San Jacinto.

There are two seconds the Runnin' Bulldogs would like to have back.

San Jac's Carrington Tankson finished off a drive to the basket with a finger roll with .6 seconds left, giving the Ravens a dramatic 61-60 victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs at the Wolens Special Events Center.

Yes, Tankson used his left arm to create space, but few officials are going to let that decide the game.

It was more of a poor job on help-side defensive that burned Navarro. Matt Pressey did a good job of guarding Tankson for 10 seconds, but he didn't get help when the San Jac shooter drove to the basket.

"We didn't rotate over," Navarro coach Johnny Estelle said. "(Tankson) was struggling all night but he hit a big shot."

Pressey had an incredible final 5 minutes, 29 seconds. He scored 14 of Navarro's final 16 points.

Five different times Pressey gave Navarro the lead in the final minutes, and he tied the game once. He made mid-range jumpers and start-and-stop drive moves. He was 6 of 6 on free throws.

Pressey drained two free throws with 53 seconds left to tie the game at 58-58.

After San Jac's Dre Harrison made 1 of 2 free throws for a 59-58 lead with 20 seconds, Pressey made a circus shot on a drive for a 60-59 lead with 12 seconds left.

It looked like all the world like it would be the game-winner. Just like here against Trinity Valley earlier this month.

It wasn't to be.

"It was a grind-it-out game," Estelle said. "The kind of game you're going to see in the conference tournament. You're going to win some and lose some of those."

Jan 21-09

Navarro hoops: Team game

No. 8 Navarro rips Panola, 87-52

By Todd Wills

Johnny Estelle substituted in one of his bench players Wednesday night with a simple message — “Go out there and play for Navarro.”

It is a coach trying to mold a championship team.

The No. 8 Runnin’ Bulldogs have proven they can win, picking up their 15th win against two losses with Wednesday’s 87-52 blasting of Panola at the Wolens Special Events Center.

They are still proving to their coach they can win as a team. The Bulldogs took a step in the right direction with their all-around strong effort against the Ponies.

“We played hard, we competed,” Estelle said. “They played together. It takes a team effort.”

Thirteen of the 14 Bulldogs that played against Panola scored. Most of Estelle’s bench players got quality minutes. Navarro’s reserves scored 46 points.

“There’s going to be a time where we need everybody,” Estelle said.

Navarro blitzed Panola in the first half. The Ponies missed their first 11 shots and only trailed 7-3. That only seemed to make the Runnin’ Bulldogs raise the level of their play.

Point guard Jantzen Carter hit a 3-pointer for a 14-6 lead. That started a 30-8 run by Navarro to end the first half.

Darian Thibodeaux hit consecutive 3-pointers for a 29-10 lead with 7:50 left in the half. Navarro got hoops from post players Keith Denson and Leon Gibson III to go up 31-12. Matt Pressey nailed a 3-pointer with 4:10 left before halftime for a 18-point lead.

Estelle turned the second half over to his bench and got quality play from freshman Greg Allen, who snapped out of a shooting slump with 12 of his game-high 16 points in the second half (Thibodeaux also had 16). Navarro had two 40-point leads at 71-31 and 73-33.

Allen also had two beautiful passes in the second half that were capped off by dunks from Gibson III, the last that gave Navarro an 81-44 lead with 2:50 left in the game.

It was the response the Runnin’ Bulldogs needed coming off Saturday’s overtime loss at Paris, 72-70.

Navarro took advantage of a Panola team that was 1-4 in the conference, jumping on the Ponies and never letting up.



No. 8 Navarro 87, Panola 52

Panola 14 38 — 52

Navarro 41 46 — 87

Panola — Ondrej Paleeek 1, Raschard Boatner 3, Thomas Orr 13, Lorenzo McCloud 8, Jerome Brown 4, Gary Cox 3, Charlton Jones 14, Gibson Chigbu 2, Terry Hines 2.

Navarro — Kenny Sharpe 4, Sam Ferguson 3, Greg Allen 16, Matt Pressey 7, Kierre Beverly 2, Darren Turpin 5, Darian Thibodeaux 16, Chase Harper 6, Jourdain Allou 7, Aaron Plunkett 3, Leon Gibson III 7, Keithtrick Denson 4.

Records — Panola 8-7, 1-5 in conference. Navarro 15-2, 5-1 in conference.

Jan 13-09

Runnin' Bulldogs lose in overtime to Jacksonville, 76-67

From Staff Reports

Navarro lost to Jacksonville in overtime, 76-67, on Wednesday night in Jacksonville.

Matt Pressey led the No. 15-ranked Runnin' Bulldogs with 21 points and six steals. Darian Thibodeaux added 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. Chase Harper had eight points and four streals. Keith Denson had 10 rebounds.

Wednesday's loss was the Runnin' Bulldogs' second overtime loss in conference. Navarro is 15-4 overall, 5-3 in conference play. Jacksonville is 9-10, 3-5 in conference.

Navarro lost despite making 11 of 29 3-pointers. The Runnin' Bulldogs had 21 turnovers and 18 steals.



Navarro 76, Jacksonville College 67 (OT)

Navarro 33 30 4 — 67

Jacksonville 33 30 13 — 76

Navarro: Matt Pressey 21, Darian Thibodeaux 17, Chase Harper 9, Greg Allen 8, Jantzen Carter 4, Jourdain Allou 4.

Jacksonville: Eric 'Kibi 18, Bryce Hill 17, Daniel Skinner 15.

 Jan 9-09

Navarro hoops: Runnin' Bulldogs fall in OT, 72-70

From Staff Reports
 

The Navarro Runnin’ Bulldogs lost their first conference game Saturday, losing in a rematch of last year’s Region XIV Championship Game, 72-70, in overtime at Paris.

Navarro (14-2, 4-1) got 18 points from Matt Pressey. Chase Harper added 14 points and nine rebounds and Jantzen Carter had 10 points in the loss.

Keith Denson also had nine rebounds and Jourdain Allou had seven boards.

The game was tied at 62-62 headed into overtime.

Navarro will return to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Panola at the Wolens Special Events Center.

Nov 19-09

No. 5 Navarro smothers Hill

Defense, guard play elevate undefeated Bulldogs over Rebels

From Staff Reports

Navarro’s secret to success is really no secret at all.

The Runnin‘ Bulldogs play punishing defense and get stellar guard play, and both were on display in an 84-61 win over Hill Wednesday at the Wolens Center.

Guards Matt Pressey and Greg Allen had 23 and 20 points, respectively, and the fifth-ranked Bulldogs (6-0) outscored Hill (3-4) 37-20 in the final 15 minutes after the Rebels had pulled to within 47-41 with a 7-0 run, one that included two Navarro posts whistled for their fourth fouls.

Hill did not have a field goal the final 7:35 of the game.

“A big part of our program is defense,” said coach Johnny Estelle. “If you can guard people and play hard, you’ve got a chance every night.”

Navarro won by only five when the two teams met in Hillsboro nine days ago.

Hill led early, until a Keithtrick Denson layup and Allen three-pointer put Navarro up for good, 14-12, four and half minutes into the first half.

Allen added another three-pointer a minute later on his way to 18 first-half points. Pressey had 16 in the second half, including 13 in a row when the lead grew to 71-53 after Hill’s final field goal.

Guard Jantzen Carter added 12 for Navarro.

“We’re blessed to have those guys,” Estelle said.

Denson had 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

Chris Kupets led four Rebels in double figures with 21.



xxx



No. 5 Navarro 84, Hill 61

Hill 32 29 — 61

Navarro 45 39 — 84

Hill — Adam Fontenot 10, Chris Kupets 21, T.J. Clark 10, Keilan Ollor 2, Odayne Clark 8, Dandre Simmons 10.

Navarro — Kenny Sharpe 4, Greg Allen 20, Matt Pressey 23, Jantzen Carter 12, Darren Turpin 4, Jourdain Allou 7, Aaron Plunkett 2, Leon Gibson 2, Keithtrick Denson 10.

Records — Hill 3-4, Navarro 6-0.

Nov 12-09

Runnin’ Bulldogs defense dominates McLennan

Navarro holds Highlanders to 22 first-half points

By Todd Wills

Navarro coach Johnny Estelle loves the defense his Runnin’ Bulldogs are playing early in the season.

And he doesn’t take the credit for another sparkling defensive effort like Navarro had in Wednesday night’s 71-56 victory over McLennan at the Wolens Center.

He gives it to his players, and particularly assistant coach Eric Colbert, who scouts the opponent and then puts the Runnin’ Bulldogs in the best position to get stops against their opponent.

“He’s the best defensive coordinator around,” Estelle said.

Navarro football defensive coach Wade Griffin might take exception to that, but it’s difficult to argue with Colbert’s work.

Navarro led 38-22 at halftime, doing a great job of guarding the perimeter, taking charges and challenging shots.

“We’re playing really good team defense right now,” said sophomore guard Matt Pressey, who 19 points to lead Navarro.

McLennan did go on a 7-0 run to start the second half, cutting the lead to 38-29. But the Runnin’ Bulldogs didn’t panic and went on an 8-1 run. Pressey had a drive and a dunk for the 46-30 lead with 13:33 left in the game.

Navarro got solid inside play from Keith Denson, Jourdain Allou and Cortrell Eskeridge. They combined for 23 points and 23 rebounds. Allou had a key play when he slashed through the lane to grab a rebound, putting it back for a 56-41 lead. He drew a foul but missed the foul shot.

“We try to build a program here,” Estelle said. “They didn’t have to wait their turn, but we had Paul (Crosby) and Chase (Harper) last year and then Keith and Jourdain came in after them.”

Harper, who is playing football and committed to Nebraska this week, will return to the basketball team when No. 1 Navarro’s football season is over.

Denson is going to sign with Creighton on Thursday.

“Matt and the rest of them, they’ll get their chance,” Estelle said. “We’ve played three good teams so far. We’re setting the tone right now.”

Nov 4-09

Navarro hoops: Runnin' Bulldogs celebrate with rout

Navarro gets rings for last year’s title, then win, 118-36

From Staff Reports

Navarro celebrated last year’s Region XIV championship and first trip to the NJCAA national tournament on Tuesday night with a ring ceremony.

They also opened the new season with a ringing effort.

Freshman Greg Allen drilled five 3-pointers and scored 24 points as the Runnin’ Bulldogs hammered Texas Wesleyan’s Junior Varsity, 118-36, at the Wolens Center.

With last year’s All-American DeAndre Brown — now at Louisiana Tech — in attendance, Navarro built a 76-18 halftime lead.

“We played well in the first half defensively and got a lead,” Navarro assistant coach Eric Colbert said. “We were just trying to get everybody a chance to play.”

Jantzen Carter had 15 points and Matt Pressey added 13 for Navarro.

---

Navarro 118, Texas Wesleyan JV 36

Texas Wesleyan JV 18 18 — 36

Navarro 76 42 — 118

Texas Wesleyan JV (36): LeAndre Spann 6, Dedrick Minnifield 1, Cameron Anderson 13, Loic Norvanno 4, Damon Miller 4, Ryan Allen 4, Chris McVey 2.

Navarro (118): Kenny Sharpe 10, Sam Ferguson 8, Greg Allen 24, Matt Pressey 13, Jantzen Carter 15, Kierre Beverly 10, Cortrell Estridge 4, Jordain Allou 10, Aaron Plunkett 6, Leon Gibson 8, Keithrick Denson 10.

Records: Navarro (1-0).

Nov 3-09

Bulldogs open new season as a target

After first trip to Hutchinson, No. 8 Navarro now the favorites

By Todd Wills

Daily Sun

The Navarro Runnin’ Bulldogs open a new season Tuesday night against Texas Wesleyan’s junior varsity with a No. 8 national ranking. They are the defending conference champions.

Ask three of the key returning players off of last season’s first team to make it to the national tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., and they all have different takes on the national ranking.

“That’s a big step,” sophomore guard Darian Thibodeaux said. “That’s a major step. We have a target on our back. Now we have to maintain that. I like being a target and having to prove myself.”

Sophomore post Keithrick Denson said the No. 8 ranking isn’t really news to him.

“We’re trying to strive to be No. 1,” Denson said. “Being No. 8 doesn’t do much for me.”

Sophomore guard Matt Pressey is somewhere in the middle.

“It’s nice to be ranked that high,” he said. “At the same time, it can hurt you more than it can help if you don’t take it the right way.”

However you look at it, the pre-Christmas schedule for the Runnin’ Bulldogs is about making improvements with a re-made roster. It starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at the Wolens Center.

“Really you’re just trying to peak for the conference tournament,” Runnin’ Bulldogs coach Johnny Estelle said.

The Region XIV Tournament is four months away. Right now Estelle is re-tooling his team without leading scorer DeAndre Brown, who will play for Louisiana Tech.

Brown’s departure means Navarro is likely to show more balance on the offensive end. It also means the Runnin’ Bulldogs will be without a guard who dominates the basketball, and the returning players aren’t shy about admitting they are looking forward to that.

“It’s definitely going to be different,” Pressey said.

Thibodeaux, Pressey and freshman Greg Allen will provide the scoring from the wings. Freshman Sam Ferguson from California and transfer Brian Talley (Duncanville), a transfer from Southern University who is currently injured, will run the point guard.

All five players, plus whoever else emerges, will have to pick up the slack for Brown, who was an NABC first-team All-American last year.

“We have the wings to give us the opportunity to put more numbers on the board instead of our star point guard averaging 20 and 30 this game and 45 one game,” Thibodeaux said. “We’re very unselfish. We have guys who can score from left to right. Up and down. It will be pretty balanced.”

The big improvement, Pressey and Thibodeaux, said will come from the offense of Denson, who will be the low-post threat with Paul Crosby graduating.

Denson, who is 6-8, said he’s way better on offense. Pressey said Denson’s passing and defense also have improved.

“ I don’t what happened,” Thibodeaux said. “He’s transformed. He went through a whole another phase.

Oct. 26-09

Navarro basketball: Runnin’ Bulldogs are No. 8

By Todd Wills

Navarro, which went to its first national tournament last season, will open 2009-10 as the No. 8 team in the NJCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Poll announced Monday.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs, which had a 26-11 record in 2008-09 opens the season Nov. 3 at home against the Texas Wesleyan JV.

"I've never been one to get into polls but it's good for the kids to get some early exposure," Navarro coach Johnny Estelle said. "Now we have a target on our back."

Central Florida Community College in Ocala, Fla. is the preseason No. 1-ranked team.

Conference rival Lon Morris is No. 24.

  Oct. 15-09

Region XIV Hoops: Navarro picked to be back in title game

Estelle, Runnin’ Bulldogs tabbed to win North Zone

By Todd Wills

ATHENS — Retired Trinity Valley coach Leon “Red” Spencer had a funny line at Thursday’s conference media day about being the defending Region XIV Champions.

“It’s a whole lot windier up there when you’re at the top of the flag pole,” Spencer said.

Navarro, which made it’s first NJCAA national tournament last spring, is about to find out. The Bulldogs are picked by the Region XIV coaches to win the North Zone.

The question is are they about to go through something new?

As Runnin’ Bulldogs coach Johnny Estelle is quick to point out, Navarro has now played in three consecutive regional championship games. Last year just happened to be the first one they’ve finished off. Navarro also has a ton of tradition because of what Orr was able to accomplish in three decades coaching in Corsicana.

“It doesn’t really matter if you’re the first place team or the last-place one,” Estelle said. “Teams in this conference are always out to get you.”

Navarro is in a different position having finally made it to the national tournament.

Estelle said making it to Hutchinson did help on the recruiting trail. Navarro was able to use the national tournament berth and assistant coach Eric Colbert’s California connections to land five freshmen from the West Coach, including 6-3 shooting guard Greg Allen from Fortuna, Calif. Darren Turpin, Sam Ferguson, Kierre Beverly and Leon Gibson III are also all from the California.

“We were able to bring that out,” Estelle said of the national tournament berth. “It helps us out a lot.”

The Runnin’ Bulldogs, who received eight first-place votes in the coaches’ poll, should be a very good team again, blending in the young talent with sophomores like Matt Pressey, Darian Thibodeaux, Chase Harper, Jourdain Allou and Keithrick Denson.

But as Lon Morris coach Dale Dotson, who has coached three teams to Hutchinson, said at the two-year college level, you just never know what you’re going to get.

Coaches are blending in new players — Navarro lists 10 freshmen on its roster — so there are no guarantees.

“It’s brutal,” said Dotson, the former Corsicana High School coach. “The first year I was at Lon Morris we were really good and we made it to Hutch. The next year we had all our guys back and we got knocked out in the conference semis. Teams change so much it’s hard to know.”

Estelle said it’s true that coaches are always starting over at the junior college level.

“You’re always getting younger,” Estelle said. “When you put them all together you don’t know what you’re going to get.”

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REGION XIV PRESEASON COACHES POLL

North Zone

1. Navarro (8) 82

2. TVCC (3) 77

3. Tyler (2) 74

4. Kilgore 46

5. Paris 44

6. Panola 27

7. Bossier Parish 14



South Zone

1. Lon Morris (10) 87

2. San Jacinto (2) 73

3. Lee (1) 62

4. Angelina 52

5. Jacksonville 36

6. Lamar State-PA 29

7. Blinn 25

                                                     IT'S TIME TO DEFEND WHAT'S OURS!   2009-2010 BASKETBALL SEASON

Navarro sophomore Jantzen Carter (25) of Houston drives around White Castle, La. freshman Ryan Holland during the Running Bulldogs Midnight Madness event Thursday night at the K. and Ida Wolens SEC.