Young Tigers' trials test McCord

Losing and Derek McCord do not make good bedfellows.

That's why Cape Central athletic director Terry Kitchen appeared eager last spring to make the successful Scott City coach head of a struggling Tiger program.

It's also why the first-year coach didn't get to sleep until 3 a.m. Wednesday, an 84-67 loss to Doniphan gnawing at him. The game, coupled with a loss to Poplar Bluff two days later, left McCord's Tigers at 4-14 overall and 0-5 in the SEMO Conference.

The task will not get any easier tonight when rival Notre Dame (13-6) visits for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

"It's tough to take it on the chin like we're having to do this year," said McCord. "It's just tough. It's frustrating to lose when you're not accustomed to losing."

It's a tough swallow for McCord, who entered this season with a 229-75 coaching record. He won four district tournaments while at Scott City and compiled a 132-19 record in a recent five-year span in which his Rams never fell out of the Class 2A top 10 rankings. He never had a losing season as a player at North Pemiscot High School.

Starting all over

But after 10 years at Scott City, McCord was ready for a new challenge. By his own admission, the challenge has been a little more than he expected.

At Central, the chore of turning around a team that went 7-17 last season has been formidable, complicated by a mix of injuries, players quitting, youth, size and schedule.

The only returner from last year with considerable varsity experience, junior point guard Willie Colon, was lost for the season when he tore knee ligaments in an early game against Sikeston. Leading rebounders Seville Bell and Mitch Craft recently quit, leaving the Tigers with one starter over 6-foot. A starting lineup of sophomores and juniors -- the team has only two seniors -- is then put against highly ranked teams like Parkway West (No. 2, 4A), Poplar Bluff (No. 7, 4A) and New Madrid County Central (No. 1, 3A).

"We're playing one of the toughest schedules in the area, and we're basically doing it with a JV roster," said McCord.

And while it may cause sleepless nights, McCord remains upbeat.

"It's a great challenge," he said. "But the potential is here. I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't think it was. We have a tremendous AD in Terry Kitchen, we've got great facilities with the new school. And I think you have young kids that want to work hard. Those are the three reasons that I'm excited about the future."

McCord said the Tigers' gymnasium and facilities at the new high school, which opens next school year, will be second to none in the area.

Waiting for cubs to mature

Notre Dame coach Darrin Scott, whose Bulldogs already own two victories over Central, attributes most of the Tigers' problems to youth and the accompanying inconsistency.

"In the future I'm sure they're going to be more consistent," said Scott. "Right now at times, they're very good."

Scott found that out in the last meeting when Notre Dame struggled to a 51-49 victory in the quarterfinals of the University High Christmas Tournament.

As for tonight, Scott said, "Hopefully we'll be better because I'm expecting them to be better than last time we played them."

While the present is trying for Central, no one is running.

"I really wish I was a freshman or sophomore," said Matt Cardin, a senior. "Even though we're going through a hard time right now, we're still having a fun time."

Promising days ahead

With guards Will Johnson and Ryan Delph in a sophomore class that McCord calls among the best in the area, and junior forward Anthony Harris, it's hard not to be optimistic. Add a strong freshman class that holds 6-2 Lorenzo Braxton, a scorer who can already do two-handed slams, and the picture gets rosier.

"I think the best times are ahead of us, no question," said McCord.

He's trying to build a foundation by encouraging summer league participation and attendance at basketball camps. He leaves the gym open three nights a week during the fall and will do the same in the spring. He said he hopes to recruit more players to the cause.

"I think we have to develop an inside presence, but I think the future is very encouraging with the number of young players we have," said McCord. "There's not a team we've played that has been younger than us or more inexperienced than us all year long."

The current situation reminds McCord of when he arrived at Scott City, when naysayers told him .500 would be a high goal at the football-oriented school. Instead, he led the program to titles.

The current tribulation lends perspective.

"It makes you appreciate winning and the success you've had in the past," he said. "I want these kids to experience success, but there's no fast-forward button."

If there was, it would have been pressed by now.

jbreer@semissourian.com

(573) 335-6611, extension 124