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November 8, 2009

Super 7 countdown for prep basketball: No, 6, Gore boys

There’s not much Devan Rinehart can do better than shoot 50 percent from the field like he did last year. But it’s looking like he just might try.

Jordan Garner, the Gore coach, said the 6-foot-4 senior guard. who averaged 22 points per game, is likely to be better because he’s stronger after spending the summer and the off-season in the weight room.

“I can tell I’m shooting the ball better,” Rineheart said. “I needed to get stronger because that helps with my jump shot. I wasn’t near as strong last year and I didn’t shoot well (28 percent) from 3-point range. Things are going well. I’m excited.”

Garner is also enthused about Rineheart.

“If he’s shooting well, that’s going to open everything up for (6-4 junior forward) Logan Andrews and (6-5 senior center) Ethan James,” Garner said.

Andrews averaged 11 points and 11 rebounds a year ago. James averaged eight rebounds per game.

Gore’s size makes the Pirates one of the bigger teams in Class 2A and that doesn’t include 6-4 senior forward Sam Kusler. Kusler also saw playing time last year before injuring his knee.

Rineheart has to wait until football season is over to get all of the bigger players on the floor. He’s patient.

“If I get double-teamed, I can dump it off to one of them to let them score around the rim,” he said.

That’s what Garner is hoping.

“With our size, we should be able to create matchup problems for people in our class,” he said.

Garner can’t praise Rineheart enough.

“He gets everybody involved in the game and we’re much better when everybody’s involved,” Garner said. “He’s going to hook up this year. He’s going to get some looks because he can play at the next level.”

— Kenton Brooks, staff writer

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