3 local head coaches to play in exhibition
Three head basketball coaches of local teams be members of the Toad Suck Lions, a local team that will take on the Harlem Ambassadors in a fundraising basketball game Feb. 16 at the Hendrix Wellness and Athletic Center.
Heading the group is UCA men’s coach Corliss Williamson, who was a two-time Gatorade National High School Player of the Year at Russellville and the Most Outstanding Player of the 1994 NCAA tournament, helping the Arkansas Razorbacks to a national title. He enters the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame this year along with other members of that team.
Williamson was twice SEC Player of the Year and was a No. 13 pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 1995 NBA draft. He played for the Kings from 1995-2000, the Toronto Raptors in 2000-2001, the Detroit Pistons (2001-2004) and the Philadelphia 76ers (2001-2002). He was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year from 2001-2002. He was a member of the Pistons’ 2004 championship team. He was a volunteer coach at Arkansas Baptist College before becoming UCA’s head coach in 2010.
Thad McCracken, Hendrix College’s men’s basketball coach, is in his second season in that capacity. A native of Bedford, Indiana, and a graduate of Hanover College, he was part of four Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships and made two NCAA D-III national tournament appearances. He was honored as a NCAA D-III All-American and HCAC Player of the Year his senior year and HCAC Tournament MVP his junior year. McCracken holds the record for most 3-pointers in a season and is tied for most career 3-pointers in Hanover’s history. Prior to taking over the Hendrix men’s team, he guided the Lady Warriors through one of the most exciting women’s seasons in school history with its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Western Division title after finishing 20-5 overall and 13-3 in SCAC play.
Ashley Nance, Conway High School’s women’s basketball coach, took on that role in 2010 after two seasons as head coach of the Conway Christian High School women’s team, leading them to a Class 2A state championship. She was also on the coaching staff at the 2009 Arkansas High School Coaches Association all-star game. Nance played high school basketball at Guy-Perkins with teams that won three state championships under the direction of her father, John Hutchcraft, one of the most successful high school coaches in Arkansas history. She was the tournament MVP three straight seasons. She also played and served as an assistant at UCA under Ron Marvel, one of Arkansas’ most successful women’s college coaches.
Joining these head coaches as members of the Toad Suck Lions is Hendrix College’s assistant men’s basketball coach, Drew Gaeng, who is in his third season in that role. Gaeng, who graduated with valedictorian honors from Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Maryland, was a standout point guard for Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, served as team captain of the Maroons his senior year, and led the team in 3-pointers and assists. He guided the team to a 13-game win streak to start the 2008-09 season and was ranked as high as 18th in the D3Hoops.com National Top 25 poll.
Another Toad Suck Lion is Janson Hightower, who is currently the UCA men’s basketball graduate assistant. He is from Owasso, Okla., and was a three-year starter for the Hendrix Warriors and led the team with 335 career assists. Other career accomplishments include 446 points, 234 rebounds, and 103 steals. He was named to the Hendrix All-Academic team three times.
The team also has some recreational players, one of whom is Brian Ratliff, better known as the Toadmaster of the Toad Suck Daze festival, a position he has held for twelve years. He has played in each of the club’s earlier Harlem Ambassador Basketball Shows complete with his Toadmaster green coat and top hat. He is currently the children’s minister at Antioch Baptist Church. Prior to assuming that responsibility, he taught third and fourth grade in Conway, was assistant principal for the Greenbrier School District, and served as principal of Vilonia’s Primary School and Academy of Technology.
Legendary basketball coaches Cliff Garrison of Hendrix and Don Dyer of UCA will coach the Lions along with former Razorback and Conway standout Marvin Delph.
The game will begin at 7 p.m.
The Greenbrier Eastside Little Dribblers will be performing at halftime.
Proceeds from this event will benefit blind and visually-impaired citizens of Conway and Faulkner County. Tickets for the game can be purchased in advance at First Security and Simmons Bank branches including Conway, Mayflower, Greenbrier, and Vilonia locations and at First Service Bank in Greenbrier, the Log Cabin Democrat, and the Faulkner County Library. Tickets for students and seniors (55 and over) are $7 and adult tickets are $9. Children , four and under, will be admitted free.
Tickets will cost $2 more on game night.
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Unfortunately, my family and I won't be able to attend this year. But we attended this game last year.
The Ambassadors provided a ton of entertainment as well as a good "work hard" and "drug free" message. They did a great job of keeping the crowd involved in thier antics as well.
Good fun for a good cause.