Calvary Baptist/SBOA Scrimmage Preview: Players to Watch

The 2024-25 season is less than a month away. Teams are beginning to participate in scrimmages all over the state as they get ready to hit the hardwood. Not only are the players preparing, the referees are as well. On Tuesday night, both sets will get in some much needed work. The Shreveport Association of referees will hold a scrimmage at Calvary Baptist with a host of local teams. If there is a ball bouncing, there will be some players to preview during the session. Even though some teams will be minus their football players, there will be key players to watch. We will highlight about six who should be knocking the dust off at Calvary on Tuesday.    Dean-Woods is the best player in Shreveport-Bossier. He is the leader of a Bossier team with a younger supporting cast, however. Tuesday night, he will need to show leadership with his talent and vocally. Communicating on offense and defense will be paramount for this team. Getting Dean-Woods the ball in scoring position will be important as well. If those two things happen, Dean-Woods will flourish.     Lofton had a good summer playing on the Prep Hoops circuit. It was a quiet summer in that he was rarely seen. Lofton is one of the top point guards in the state. For this team to win, he will have to score and facilitate for this team. Getting off to a good start doing such on Tuesday will be a positive thing.     Shiflett will be without key football players on Tuesday evening. This will be the time to put his personal stamp on the team because of that. Shiflett will need to show he can score and facilitate without some of his weapons. He is a creative finisher and a knockdown shooter, so scoring should not be a problem. Being a leader on the defensive end will be what we need to see from him.     Ebarb is one of the Wolverines senior leaders. He handles the ball a ton for Mansfield and will on Tuesday. Ebarb is another who will have to score and lead while football players are absent. Getting his teammates into sets and communicating will be big keys during game play. If he accomplishes those goals, look for the Wolverines to smoothly transition when their other talent arrives.     Parker is getting a ton of recruiting buzz lately and it is justified. He is one of the better players in the 2027 class. Being a leader on a talented team such as Huntington is a task, however. Knowing when to score and when to pass is a gift. As a super sophomore, he will have to figure that out. Tuesday night will be a good place to start that process.       Hall is another top player in the 2027 class. He can play either guard position and he is an elite level shooter. This summer, Hall assimilated into the Calvary Baptist style of play with no problem. Playing this summer and playing your first varsity season are different though. Teams know he is playing and he will be part of the scouting report now. Will he struggle or will he flourish will be the question.    Game play begins at 5:30 on two courts at Calvary. Captain Shreve, Red River, Woodlawn (Shreveport), Huntington, Evangel, and Bossier will be the participants as Calvary hosts.

The 2024-25 season is less than a month away. Teams are beginning to participate in scrimmages all over the state as they get ready to hit the hardwood. Not only are the players preparing, the referees are as well. On Tuesday night, both sets will get in some much needed work. The Shreveport Association of referees will hold a scrimmage at Calvary Baptist with a host of local teams. If there is a ball bouncing, there will be some players to preview during the session. Even though some teams will be minus their football players, there will be key players to watch. We will highlight about six who should be knocking the dust off at Calvary on Tuesday.