Vina’s experience is its greatest strength
Experience in sports is one of the most crucial aspects of any game. For Vina boys head basketball coach Randy Barnes, who is entering his fifth season, relying on a number of players who have either started for several years or have played vital roles during their Red Devil careers will be vital to whether they make it back to the postseason.
Nine of the players on the Vina’s roster are upper classmen, something Barnes hasn’t had the fortune of having during his tenure.
“This is probably one of the older teams I’ve had in mytimehere,”Barnessaid. “Most of the time, being a small school, you have a bunch of eighth graders and freshmen starting. But that’s not the case for us this year. They know what to expect and it’s one of our greatest strengths.”
Key to Vina’s gameplans will be seniors Brody Raper and Matthew Patterson – both of whom have been starting for Barnes since they were freshmen.
Juniors Colton Davis, Parker Watts and Cameron Hester will also be called upon to provide valuable minutes for the Red Devils this season.
Three-sport athlete Brandon Vick will be a key contributor, along with transfer post player Trace Flippo, Cason Johnson, Colton Davis and freshmen Henley Dean.
“All of those guys are going to see a ton of minutes,” Barnes said.
One thing Vina will have to overcome is losing guard Christian McCarley, who averaged 21 points per games last year in his senior season, along with 10 rebounds per game. Finding ways to replace that level of production will be one of the early tests for Barnes’ team.
“Losing that kind of offensive stability, someone is going to have to step up,” Barnes said. “I’m excited to see where it leads us. You never know who’s going to step up and fill that role.”
Vina is in arguably one of the tougher areas, based on classifications, in the region, having to go toe-totoe with the likes of Marion County, Hackleburg, Brilliant and Phillips.
Regardless of the competition, Barnes said he and the Red Devils are welcoming the challenge.
“They are all solid teams in our area,” Barnes said. “I love being able to compete week in and week out. We can go 0-8 in area play, but if we catch fire before the area tournament, we can find ourselves in the playoffs just as easily.”
