Take 5 with Donnie Bostwick

Talking Hoops with new Head Coach

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- On the eve of the 2011-12 Red River Athletic Conference road opener, new head coach Donnie Bostwick sat down long enough to answer five questions about the Southwestern Assemblies of God University men’s basketball team.

Still unbeaten at 6-0, the Lions will have their hands full against Bacone College in Saturday’s 7:30pm game in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Fresh off of a conference win in their own debut, the Warriors are showing a new look. Alan Foster, now in his 12th season at the helm at Bacone (BAY-kone), has six players who stand 6-foot-5 or taller.

The red-clad Tribe are 2-4 overall, but their record is deceiving. Two of their losses came at Southwestern Christian University (Ok), 84-83, and at Friends University (Ks), 54-52.

Saturday’s clash with SAGU will be the Warriors’ first home game at the Palmer Center.

The Take 5 is a new weekly feature that will also feature a bonus query.

Q1: What do you know about your team after six non-conference games?

Donnie Bostwick: We are close to where I hoped we would be at this point. When it comes to winning, it is a perfect case scenario. We have overcome some poor shooting with a great effort on defense and on the offensive boards.

I am most pleased with the quality character of our young men. That gives me hope we will continue to improve. We are young, though our depth and all-out effort has helped us overcome it (deficiencies) so far.

Q2: What team strengths have been revealed during the first month of action?

DB: Depth is a strength. Quickness and effort has helped us force a lot of turnovers. Also, rebounding and our transition game have gotten us off to a good start. I really believe we are going to be a good outside shooting team before it is all said and done.

Q3: The team opens conference play at Bacone College. What do you know about the Warriors?

DB: Bacone has a really good shooter to go along with a couple of very athletic forwards. They are coming off a nice win (70-68) over Texas College.

They are usually pretty tough at home. I feel we have an edge when it comes to depth and we should match up with them pretty well. We need to keep them off the offensive glass. They are athletic, much like us.

Note: Over the past four years, Bacone leads the series, 5-3. The Warriors have won the past two games at home, including 93-91 last year. BC has taken 3-of-4 in Waxahachie.

Q4: Who are players to watch out for from Bacone?

DB: The first three that come to mind are guards Lakheem Trotter (#11) and James Scott (#21), and a forward, La’Charleston Tumblin (#24).

Trotter (15.5 ppg) is a great outside shooter. He is capable of having a big game every night. Scott (15.3 ppg) is an athletic slasher who can score in a number of ways. Tumblin (9 ppg, 6 rpg) is a big guy. He is a high flyer who is quick to the basket and is an offensive board magnet.

Q5: Who are the likely starters for SAGU

DB: We’ll be going the same way we have all season. Ronald Horne, Craig Grigsby and Dominique Rambo at guards, with Duce Ward (forward) and Mike Nwelue* (center) on the baseline.

BONUS Q: How do you see the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State football game? Who are you rooting for? 

DB: I am born and bred “Crimson ‘n Cream.” OU has suffered two major injuries on offense, but I am predicting the (bad) weather will help our defense slow down OSU. I like (Coach Bob) Stoops in a close game. 24-21 Sooners.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.

*Nwelue is pronounced new-WELL-ah-way