Hughes: Time has arrived for Lakeview boys

GAINESVILLE - Lakeview Academy boys basketball coach Richie Hughes said time has finally arrived to see if his program has arrived.

The Lions open the season Tuesday on the road at Greenforest and play three more road games before their home-opener Nov. 22nd against East Hall.

That's right, the defending Class AAA state champion Vikings, who also happen to be ranked 13th nationally by HOOPSUSA.com. Lakeview also plays Buford twice, the Lanierland Tournament against the other Region 7-AAA schools and Whitefield Academy, the defending Class A state champion.

To borrow from Slim Pickens in Blazing Saddles, "What in the Wide, Wide, World of Sports is a going on here?"

"This is the fifth year of our five-year plan and I think we've shown marked improvement each year," Hughes said. "Now we need to see where we are. It's a tough schedule, no doubt, But if you want to be the best, you have to play the best."

The Class A Lions went 14-10 last year and have increased their win total by at least two each year since Hughes took over. They fell two points shy of the state tournament in last year's Region 8-A tournament, losing to Social Circle, invoking memories of the Reno Earls days nearly a decade ago.

There are no superstars this time around, but Hughes thinks they may be more balanced than the teams in the mid-1990s that also fell just short of a state playoff berth.

Eight seniors, led by leading scorers Will Crumley (10 ppg) and J.B. Little (9 ppg), return for the Lions. Dustin Wellborn and Trey Wood, along with junior James Francis will likely start the opener Tuesday.

Senior reserves Tony Cash, Ross McIntire, Brian Whitfield, and Arpit Patel give Lakeview experience off the bench. Juniors Zach Estes and Billy Sage will also get plenty of minutes, Hughes said.

"We think we have a very solid, experienced nucleus to really do some good things this year. I'm not going to make any guarantees or predictions, but I do expect us to challenge for the region and for a state playoff spot," Hughes said.

"Whether we do any of that, we'll have to see. But I know I've been waiting seven months to find out. I can't wait until Tuesday."