by Malcolm Butler
Last year was tough on Cannon Robbins.
After transferring from Ruston High to Cedar Creek, the 6-foot-2-inch ultra-versatile guard had to sit out due to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s transfer rule.
However, the lack of true in-game action on the hardwood has Robbins hungry for the start of this season along with his Cougar teammates.
“I think the hardest part was going to practice ever day, working hard and then having to sit out every single game and just watching my teammates play,” said Robbins. “We lost first round last year, and I think I could have helped out a lot.
“I’m real hungry. I didn’t play much at Ruston (High) my first year either. So this is really my first year getting to play high school basketball.”
Cedar Creek head coach Lance Waldron calls Robbins “one of the best players I have ever coached.”
“Cannon is a game-changer for us because he can do whatever he wants on the basketball court,” said Waldron. “He can shoot the three. He can drive. He can rebound. He can handle the ball. I have yet to find someone who can shut him down. He is a different animal.”
The Cougars are coming off a season that saw them go 12-14 overall, losing their final six games of the year including a Select School Division IV first round playoff loss to Riverside Academy. Creek graduated its second leading scorer in Conner Johnson, who also spent the majority of the season playing point guard.
Although Johnson’s offense and leadership will be missed, the rest of the Cougars roster is a year older and more experienced.
Cannon will form a dynamic back-court with returning starters in junior Jake Doan and seniors Jack Bell and Luke Waldron. The Cougars will have an array of offensive weapons this season and should be formidable on the offensive end of the floor.
“I think our scorers have gotten better at scoring,” said Jack Bell. “We have added Cannon which gives us another threat. If (the other team) has their focus on Cannon, then Jake can score. I can score. A number of others can score.
“We saw that when we scrimmaged Pleasant Hill. They were playing out on Cannon and on Jake, and Luke got a couple of buckets.”
Although the Creek varsity roster will consists of around 15 players, most likely early in the year, it will be a seven-man rotation, including Brett Bell, Cameron Temple and Landon Hall. And the addition of Robbins should create more opportunities for his Cougar teammates.
“The No. 1 defensive player on the other team is now tasked with Cannon,” said Waldron. “That lightens the load on everybody else offensively. It completely changes everything.”
Doan was Creek’s leading scorer last year, a volume shooter for the Cougars. With the addition of Robbins and the inclusion of other scorers, team chemistry will be key for Cedar Creek’s success.
The Cougars have scrimmaged against Pleasant Hill, Carroll and Summerfield so far this fall, and it’s given them an opportunity to get a feel for what the regular season may look like.
“So far in scrimmages and practices, I think the other guys realize they don’t have so much weight on their shoulders,” said Waldron. “I think a lot of times last year some of the guys felt like they had to shoot it.
“Now it feels like the pressure is off and we don’t have to take some of the bad shots we took last year. They don’t have to carry the team. I think now when they come down the court they are looking for each other more. I think part of that is maturity. We played a lot this summer. I think we have learned to share the ball more and to look for one another.”
The Cougars will participate in the Brickhouse Bash on November 5, scrimmage Sterlington on November 11 and then will open the season Nov. 19 at Saline.
So with the addition of Robbins and the return of a strong nucleus from last year the question is what is the Cougars potential in 2024-25.
“I really have no idea where we are going to be,” said Waldron. “I think we are going to be good. How good? I don’t know. That’s the question. Can we rebound and take care of the basketball? Those will be the difference makers.”
One thing is for sure when talking to the Creek players, they are motivated to reach the team’s potential.
“I think our strength is the work ethic we put in every day,” said Robbins. “We come in here, and we work hard. We want to do everything we can to succeed.”
“We practice hard to make the games easier,” said Jack Bell.
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