EHS celebrates basketball season

The Enterprise basketball program celebrated its season March 23 at its annual banquet.

The varsity Wildcats finished 8-16 in the final season for EHS boys basketball coach Alonzo Barkley, who resigned March 22 after four seasons at the helm of the team.

“I saw growth in all of our players in every kind of way, because they had to,” Barkley said. “They were stretched because of different circumstances throughout the season.”

During the season, Barkley said the players grew and responded to coaching.

“We asked a lot of these guys this season, a lot, and they answered,” he said. “Throughout the adversity, these guys took the coaching. We coached them hard. You don’t let up just because you face some kind of adversity in a family. You just keep pulling out the best in those (players). They accepted it and kept going.”

The Defensive MVP is E.J. Scott, who Barkley said led the team in taking charges.

The Offensive MVP is C.J. Felder, who was also named the Overall MVP.

The Most Improved Player is Sam Purvis, and Ju’Juan Hayes earned the Wildcat Character Award.

The varsity Lady Cats finished 4-19, but EHS girls basketball coach Jeff Keller lauded the players for their character when they were introduced at the banquet.

“One of the things I appreciated about this group we had this year is the way they carried themselves, the way they carried themselves on and off of the floor,” Keller said. “One of the things as a coach you really appreciate is when other teachers come to you and talk about how they are in the classroom and how they love having them in the classroom. That’s a great characteristic to have. As a coach you love to hear that, because it’s not always about what’s going on on the floor. It’s also about what’s going on off of the floor. How are you carrying yourself as an individual? That’s one of the things I really enjoyed about this group, how they carry themselves as people.”

The three Lady Cat seniors — Imani Carter, Valencia Spann and Keke Washington — were presented with team pictures signed by their teammates.

Essence Alexander earned the Wildcat Award.

The Enterprise junior varsity girls basketball team was recognized by Keller, and Haydin Anderson is the team’s MVP.

The junior varsity boys team was introduced by EHS junior varsity boys coach Evan Harvin. The team finished the season with a 13-8 record.

“We had a little bit of adversity, but one thing about JV is it’s not about winning and losing,” Harvin said. “It’s about getting (players) ready for the next level, developing the players and getting them able to contribute at the next level.”

JJ Wells is the team’s Defensive MVP, and Cam Miller is the Offensive MVP.

Joell Pierre earned the Most Improved Player Award, and Isaiah Brown earned the Wildcat Character Award. Dallas Howell is the Overall MVP.

Enterprise freshman basketball coach Mitchell McQueen introduced his players and recognized their accomplishments and improvement.

Robert Ellis received the Wildcat Character Award. The Most Improved Player is Romaine McFarland, and the Offensive MVP is Dominic York.

“We had a good season,” McQueen said. “We’ve got a lot of young, good talent that came along. We saw a lot of development between last summer and where we’re at today. We’re really excited about this group.”

The Marcus Hornsby Award was presented to Scott.

The Southeast Sun presented its Blue Collar Lady Cat Award to Alexander, and its Blue Collar Wildcat Award to Mason Jordan. Its Player of the Year is Felder.