In recent seasons, it has been rare for the Reedley College Tiger men's basketball team to play a home game in November or December.
This season, sixth-year head coach TJ Jennings' Tigers have four home games in the month of November.
The 2019-2020 season begins on Tuesday, Nov. 5 with a 6 pm matchup with the Modesto Junior College Pirates. Last season, Reedley opened a season that finished with an overall record of 8-19 (3-13 in the Central Valley Conference) with a last-second victory over the Pirates.
Other November home games include a Nov. 20 contest at 6 pm against former CVC rival Cerro Coso (now a member of the Inland Empire Athletic Conference), a 3 pm Saturday, Nov. 23 contest with West Valley (the Tigers play at West Valley in Saratoga on Nov. 9) and a Tuesday, Nov. 26 game with Solano College at 5 pm.
Central Valley Conference action begins in Reedley on Wednesday, Jan. 8 against the West Hills College Lemoore Golden Eagles.
This season's Tiger roster features four sophomores and six freshmen. All 10 players are local after attending high schools in Madera, Fresno, Clovis, and Sanger.
Two of the sophomores (Hassan Bolden, a 6-4 guard-forward from Madera South) and Braxton Hicks (a 5-10 guard from Edison in Fresno) came back after sitting out last season.
The other sophomores are guard Uriah Carter (Central), who was named to last season's all-CVC freshman team and 6-4 guard Dwayne Howell (Hoover).
Two of the six freshmen are kickbacks from other schools. 6-2 guard Carlos Fuentes (Clovis East) came from Fresno Pacific University while 5-10 guard Anthony Martinez (Clovis) came from Holy Names University in Oakland.
The roster also includes 6-8 freshman Jonathan Marks (Buchanan), 6-4 Sal Dhillon Sanger, 5-9 guard Anthony Vallin (Bullard) and 6-2 guard Carlos Fuentes (Clovis East).
"The key is going to be quality over quantity," said the coach, who believes that 10 is a great number to give them playing time and experience. The four sophomores can show the freshmen the ropes."
The Tigers started workouts with 25 players. "These 10 are a quality group," said the coach. "They are great character guys and they go to class. They take care of business Bolden is expected to be the offensive leader for the Tigers. "He will be the guy that the other teams will key on. He will be our Ruben Parks (now at Humboldt State) of last year. He's an all-leaguer from two years ago. He is a guy that has the potential to go to the next level," said Jennings.
Carter can change the game on both ends of the court. "I think the biggest thing is that he is maturing. Not perfect but there is progression and that's what you want," said the coach.
Hicks is another Tiger that the coaches are happy to have back. "He is the heart and soul of the team," added Jennings.
Jennings has added two new assistant coaches in former Hoover High (Fresno) head coach Mike Fulford and strength and conditioning coach Chima Chindah. Fulford was an assistant under Jennings five seasons ago. Assistant Jeff Taber returns even after his son ran out of eligibility.
"Having Mike back is a huge asset for us," said the head coach, who added that Fulford will handle the Tiger defense while Jennings will coach the Tiger offense.
By: Will Goldbeck