Bluejays' advantages include top seed, tradition

Christmas is steeped in tradition.

It's only fitting defending seMissourian Christmas Tournament champion Charleston occupies its traditional spot.

Like a tree-topping angel, the Bluejays sit atop the field as the No. 1 seed.

The 14-time champion has gained the respect of the field and normally commands the top seed, whether its record is trimmed with tinsel or not.

While there may occasionally be a scrooge or two who question the validity of the Bluejays' seeding, they're likely to join the chorus this year.

Charleston, with 6-foot-8 senior center Kewain Gant and 6-foot-6 sophomore Ashton Farmer leading the way, has chiseled a 4-2 record out of solid competition.

The Bluejays' two losses have been by a combined six points. One against Mills High School, the top-ranked team in Arkansas, and the other in overtime to Blytheville, Ark. It's part of a tough schedule that Charleston usually opens its season with and which sometimes leaves the Bluejays' record deceiving entering the Christmas Tournament.

But coach Danny Farmer, in his sixth season at Charleston, has been pleased with Bluejays.

"We're holding up better than any team I've coached," Farmer said.

Two returning starters

Gant and Ashton Farmer, son of the coach, are the only two returning starters from Farmer's first district championship team.

"I felt we could be as good as we were last year," Farmer said. "At this point think we're better than we were at end of last year."

Farmer attributes that to improvement in both his son and Gant, as well as his other returning letterman, Deshaundray Hamilton, and an influx of talent from last year's formidable JV team. Junior guard Trentez Lane and Joshua Strayhorn helped Charleston's JV to an 8-1 record in the SEMO Conference. Another boost has come from junior point guard Marcus Biles, who last played as a freshman.

While the Bluejays like to go to work inside with the big guys, Farmer notes "we're not one dimensional."

Farmer says the team has a more balanced attack than last year, especially from the outside where Lane, Strayhorn, Ashton Farmer and Biles can connect. The latter three are all shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range.

"We've been shooting well and playing defense," Farmer said.

While he's happy with his team's play, he says there's room for improvement, especially in the area of free-throw shooting.

Farmer said the field contains several teams that can be tough on any given night, but he's following his own personal tradition by giving more weight to Notre Dame and Jackson.

"They'll be the two I'll be looking out the most for," he said.

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124