Published: January 02, 2009 09:38 am      

Bulldogs with full slate

EHS using scrimmages to jumpstart 2009

EMPIRE — The Empire boys’ basketball team is making the most of its Christmas break, scheduling several scrimmages while students are still out of school.

Head coach Vaughn Blankenship said the more time his team can get on the floor the better, and scheduling other teams lets them see better competition than just going against each other again and again in practice.

“Bridge Creek’s got some 6-7 kids,” Blankenship said. “We’re just trying to get as much work in as possible. This physical work is going to serve us well come playoff time.”

Empire headed into the holiday break 3-3, with its last game an 85-71 loss to Bray-Doyle. Empire’s last win was against Maysville, 85-68 on Dec. 12.

“We just want to keep improving and these scrimmages during the break will help,” Blankenship said.

Empire’s season has lived and died by the three-point shot, scoring upwards of 100 points when connecting, otherwise struggling to stay in games. Against Geronimo and Grandfield, Empire scored 84 and 96 points, respectively, and won both games, thanks to some solid shooting behind the arc. In its third game, Empire struggled against the Velma-Alma Comets and shot 1-for-26 from behind the three-point line, and ended up falling 71-48.

“We had way too many turnovers in the first half and despite that we were still in the game,” Blankenship said after the game on Dec. 10. “We couldn’t hit easy ones, hit lay-ups or hit threes.”

The Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them in January, playing five regular season games as well as participating in two tournament. First will be the Grandfield Tournament on Jan. 8 and the second will be the Stephens County Tournament on Jan. 19.