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Gamble squad faces tall task

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Gamble squad faces tall task

By Cody Pastorella

The Port Arthur News

Living up to last year's game will be quite the task for the players representing the Port Arthur News/James Gamble Awards team and the visiting Franchize All Stars.

Last year's contest was not decided until a final second tip-in by Kountze’s C.J. Busby in the second overtime of a 89-87 Gamble victory at the Parker Center in Port Arthur.

That win gave Gamble, the Lincoln High School coaching legend, a 4-0 record in the annual contest that features the top 10 high school players from Southeast Texas. There are five players nominated for a Mr. Inside Award and five for a Mr. Outside Award every year.

The awards have been given out since 2003 when Kendrick Perkins, former Ozen center and current member of the Boston Celtics, received the inaugural Mr. Inside Award.

Since 2004, the 10 finalists have come together for a week of preparation under Gamble that's capped off with an all-star caliber exhibition game and an awards banquet on the following night.

This year, the Gamble team will face off with Franchize, which is a Houston based club team directed by Port Arthur Memorial head coach Terrul Henderson.

And while the game may not go to a double overtime scenario, you can rest assure that plenty of talent will be on display when these two teams tip off at 8 p.m. in the Parker Center.

Henderson is bringing 10 players, including 6-10 center John Henson from Round Rock High School who has verbally committed to North Carolina. The junior giant averaged a double, double this season, scoring 21 points and pulling down 11 boards per game.

Henson, however, is expected to be a game time decision because of a sore knee. In anticipation that Henson might not be able to go, Henderson has added 6-10 Anthony Jones of Houston Yates to his roster. Jones has committed to Baylor.

Giving Henderson yet another big man is 6-9 forward Ray Turner from Houston Jones who averaged 16.2 points per game and is being pursued by the likes of Marquette, Nebraska and New Mexico for his services. The junior has not made any decisions on which university he will call home.

Henderson also has one more player — 6-8 Kelly Lawson of Pearland — taller than the biggest Mr. Inside finalist Willie Jefferson, who stands 6-7. Jefferson, being the only true post on the Gamble squad, is a junior from Ozen who was named the Defensive Player of the Year for District 22-4A.

Jefferson also averaged a double double for the season. He dropped in 11 points and pulled down 12 boards per game.

The other Mr. Inside honorees are 6-5 Jacoby Joseph from Ozen, 6-5 Marcus Malbrough of West Brook — a Missouri football signee — 6-3 Jamar Gulley of Central and 6-3 Chris Hammond of Nederland. Gulley is the son of former Lamar University standout James Gulley.

Gamble, with his years of experience, four state championships and 670 wins with Lincoln, said he has no scouting report on the opposing team.

"We will know what they have when they get here, and we will make adjustments accordingly," Gamble said. "It's not how big you are but how big you play and we have plenty of talent on this team.

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