By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
November 2, 2004
Questions abound at Southeast Lauderdale.
Forget the starting lineup. The Tigers don't even know yet who the Tigers are the roster hasn't been finalized.
That's because first-year head coach Johnny Patrick, the long-time basketball coach at Sumter County in Alabama, has been laid up in bed for more than two weeks recovering from neck surgery.
All but a handful of the 20 or so students who tried out for the team also played for the school's football team. Even if Patrick were healthy, he would've been practicing with perhaps only a third of his team.
The job is even more difficult without him.
The only possible starter Patrick has in mind is Chris Gordon, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior, but most of what Patrick knows of Gordon comes from word of mouth.
Patrick admitted that the unfamiliarity between coach and players will likely lead to a slow start and an extended learning curve for both parties. Even so, he is optimistic that the team can adjust by the time district play rolls around.
2004-05 SCHEDULE: Nov. 11-13, Lauderdale County Tournament (at MCC); Nov. 16, Kemper County; Nov. 19, Quitman; Nov. 29-Dec. 4, at ECCC Tournament; Dec. 7, at Carthage; Dec. 10, Newton County; Dec. 11, Neshoba Central; Dec. 14, at West Lauderdale; Dec. 17, at Northeast Lauderdale; Dec. 18, at MCC Classic; Dec. 30, at Sumter (Ala.); Jan. 4, Choctaw Central; Jan. 7-8, Sam Dale Tournament (at Kemper); Jan. 11, at Ridgeland; Jan. 14, Morton; Jan. 15, Sumter (Ala.); Jan. 18, at Forest; Jan. 21, Carthage; Jan. 22, at Quitman; Jan. 26, at Newton County; Jan. 28, West Lauderdale; Feb. 1, at Choctaw Central; Feb. 8, at Morton; Feb. 11, Forest.
KEY PLAYERS: Chris Gordon, rest of roster is unavailable