After winning eight of their first 11 games to start head coach Will Parker’s second season, the Brownwood Lions have come upon hard times recently, carrying a three-game losing streak into the TexasBank Holiday Classic, which begins Wednesday.
The Lions’ last three outings have been losses to 5A programs Abilene Cooper and Abilene High, along with a home loss to 4A Snyder in which Brownwood squandered a 13-point second-half lead.
“We’re still trying to get guys in rhythm,” Parker said after the loss to Snyder. “We’re playing a lot of guys and I’m not used to playing 10 or more guys in a game. We have guys that are playing some really good minutes and then they make some big mistakes, so we’re trying to figure out the right guys to keep out there and it’s very difficult right now.”
During the skid, the Lions are averaging 51 points compared to their season average of 65, while giving up 75 points, almost 10 more than the season average of 66 points surrendered per outing.
The Lions will attempt to reverse their fortunes in pool play against Little River Academy at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Brownwood Coliseum, and Big Spring at 9:20 a.m. Thursday at the Coliseum.
“I tried to schedule the good teams,” Parker said. “We need to be tested, we need to be exposed, we need to figure out what we need to work on. As much as I know what that is, I want to make sure we’re playing teams that are going to challenge us. We have to find some rhythm and hopefully we get a couple of guys back from injuries and get them some minutes.”
After pool play, the Lions could find themselves facing either Early, Abilene Wylie, Brady, Wall, Dublin or Gatesville.
“We need to get some guards to get up the floor and score and find guys, and I want to continue to see our defense get better and I think it is, but we have to figure out how to finish at the rim,” Parker said of the tournament goals. “We can’t shoot less than 50 percent in the paint. Hopefully I won’t be saying these things all year, but I’m going to keep saying it until it happens.”
Regarding the bright spots during the current slump, Parker said, “The guys coming off the bench are giving us sparks. Sam Bruton, Ryder Lancaster, Caleb Clawson and Hayden Proffitt come out and do really good things, so how do I manage those minutes and figure those things out, that’s the difficult thing. I’m really excited about the guys we have, I just have to do a better job of trying to put them in the right spots.”
As for the importance and regaining momentum during the Classic with a few wins, Parker said, “For our confidence wise it’s important. Of course we want to win every game, but to me what’s more important is playing competition that’s going to help us get ready for district, those are the games that matter.”
The Big School Boys tournament bracket is as follows:
