By Evan Sandel and
DeJuan Baskin
The Scene staff
The Archers men’s basketball team won their first game of the season Nov. 2 beating the Missouri Baptist University by 87-60.
The Archers got off to a fast start, which helped them rest starting players and get bench players some experience. Still, head basketball coach Randy Reed sees room for improvement.
“We’re going to do a lot of running because of all the missed free throws,” Reed said. “We just need to work on team ball and improve team chemistry. That’s all.”
Reed, a former Archers basketball player, made his collegiate coaching debut this season for his old team. Reed is happy to rejoin the Forest Park community and looks forward to the challenges coaching students at the collegiate level, including his son and team captain, Randy Reed II. He was a basketball coach for McCluer North High School for 16 years.
“College Players treat the game more like a business,” Reed said. “They know how to be men about things as opposed to high school, where there is more of a nurturing relationship.”
Reed takes over the Archers basketball program this season in the shadow of former coach Randy Albrecht, who led the Archers to 28 consecutive winning seasons and had 736 career junior college victories.
Last season, in Albrecht’s coaching finale, the Archers went 20-12. However, the elder Reed is off to a fast start on making his own impression, sweeping their preseason games and winning the home opener.
“Obviously expectations have to be high now,” Reed said. “I see that we have a very talented basketball team.”
Fans are also excited about the upcoming season and the prospect of more Archers victories, after the season opener against Missouri Baptist.
“They got off to a real hot start,” said rap artist Gerald Fulton, 24, of Hazelwood. “I predict they’ll win by 32.”
Enthusiastic fans were plentiful in attendance at the contest nearly filling the Forest Park gymnasiums seating capacity.
The audience was particularly receptive to impressive dunks by the younger Reed. Even Missouri Baptist University coach Joe Myers appreciated the atmosphere.
“I enjoyed coming over,” said Myers after the game. “The atmosphere is nice, I’m glad (Forest Park) asked us back.”
With the success of the Archers basketball program, leading players will see an increased likelihood of transferring to a four-year university to play basketball at the NCAA Division I or Division II level. The younger Reed and co-captain Cortez Connors are already being recruited by 4-year colleges with prestigious basketball teams.
The elder Reed feels he will be a useful resource for players looking to ascend to the next level. He transferred from Forest Park to Kansas State University.
“I’m a living example of going to a junior college and transferring to a major college, it’s right there in front of them and I had to do things the right way in order to achieve my goals, sometimes self-motivation is the best motivation,” said Reed, who uses the player’s basketball goals to motivate, both on and off the court.
“Basically this is (our players) last chance to play at a Division I or Division II school, so I use that as a motivating tool. You have to do well, play well and you have to maintain good grades if you want to further your education and basketball skills.”