Indians ready for action

File Fhoto Emison Hughes will start at point today when the Gaffney Indians open the season at Union. Tip time is 7:30 p.m. Look for the best shot and play good defense. That's always been the Gaffney Indians credo, and that won't change this year.

Gaffney opens the season today at Union with a team that returns four starters. Despite missing the playoffs a year ago, the Indians enter the season with high expectations and a No. 6 ranking in the state coaches poll.

"I really don't agree with our ranking, but this team is a fun group to coach," Gaffney coach Mark Huff said. "We've had three and a half weeks of good practices."

Once again this season, the Indians will be undersized. Eric Fearn is the team's tallest player at 6-5.

"Size still could be a problem," Huff said. "We'll have to rely on our quickness."

Gaffney has plenty of that in the backcourt with Emison Hughes at the point and Josh Corry and Chase Smith at the wing.

Huff said point guard Emison Hughes is much improved. Corry is one of the team's leading scorers. The backcourt depth will be provided by Ivan Vernon, Kris Brown, DeEdward Burris, Dominique Byers, Dershawn Dawkins and Parris Funderburke. Byers will be sidelined three more weeks with an injury.

Huff said quickness and depth should be team strengths.

"I hope we can wear people down," he said.

That might not be easy tonight against Union, which boasts a talented inside-outside tandem of Clemson signee Devin Booker and sharpshooter Mike Mebane, who had six threes in a recent win.

The Yellow Jackets have won three straight games after a season opening loss to Spartanburg Christian.

"They will press and they have a good inside game," he said.

They displayed their offensive firepower by scoring 89 points in a win over Broome.