Bulldogs have high expectations

If you ask Ville Platte High Head Basketball Coach Tommy Jones, this basketball season is one of improving upon last year’s record. Last season, the Bulldogs had a very mediocre year by Ville Platte High standards. The Bulldogs went 14-15 and were ousted the first round of the playoffs at the hands of Richwood High School. However, Ville Platte is looking to use last season as a spring board to bigger and better things in 2014-2015.
“Our expectations for this year are really high,” said Jones. “We have eight seniors and they are a real good group of kids. With our younger players, it makes for a good mix. The talent is there, it’s just a matter of putting everything together. We have had a couple of scrimmages already and did well. Like every year, we want to win the district title and make a deep run in the playoffs.”
With the return of starters Jaqualyn Doucet, Alex Gooden, Ernest Ardoin and Brandon Dominick the Bulldogs are in good shape when it comes to experience. Gooden is a returning all-district and all-parish performer and according to Jones, one of the hardest working players on the team. Ardoin is the returning team’s most valuable player and Dominick is a three-year player.
To replace the loss of big man Kendall Ardoin, Keilan Semien will have to step up and fill-in. Jones is looking for other players like Vondarious Freeman, Dayton Jackson, Shanicole Holland and Martin Jason to give valuable minutes this year. Freeman and Jackson are football players and should bring that physicality needed in the paint.
The non-district season is filled with top rate opponents. The Bulldogs will travel to Northside High School, Southern Lab, North Central and Walker High School, and all are perennial powerhouses in their respected classes. Ville Platte will host nationally-ranked Madison Prep as well as Jennings High School. Madison Prep has a McDonald’s All-American player in Brandon Sampson. The Bulldogs will also participate in the Rapides Tournament as well as the Northwest Holiday Tournament.
“It’s a typical Ville Platte High schedule,” commented Jones. “We have a very tough schedule. That will give us some competition to help us improve and give us needed power points for the playoffs. We will face some of the top teams in the state. Also, our district is very competitive and will take perfection to win the title.”
If the Bulldogs can get the right combination of veterans and underclassman to play together, Ville Platte will definitely improve from last season. Playing a tough non-district schedule will definitely get them ready for the playoffs. A district championship will only come if they can play as a unit come January 16, when the district season begins.