BY DAVID FOLSE II

Sports Editor

RESERVE-Most fans think when you capture a state championship that it is a culmination of four years and it will be a long time before you can win another one.

Don’t tell that to Reserve Christian.

After capturing the Class B state title this past season, the Eagles will once again be the overwhelming favorites to take home another state championship for the 2005-06 season.

Why?

Because they only lose three seniors.

Eliel Parrales, Christopher Keller and Demetruis Akseheroglon are the only players that Head Coach Tim Byrd had to say good-bye to in the Cajundome on Saturday afternoon. Other than that, the Eagles return everybody, including Demond “Tweetie” Carter.

“Tweetie is going to hit the weights this off-season and get on a really good conditioning program,” Byrd said. “He is going to try and improve on his explosiveness and his quickness.

“If he improves any, he’ll be scary.”

Byrd said there are few things if any that his star guard can improve in terms of his basketball skills.

“Really nothing,” Byrd said. “If you wanted to get really picky you could say his left hand could get as good as his right hand, but from an X’s and O’s and fundamentals standpoint, he has got it all.

“I think physically he can get better. He can get stronger and he can get quicker. He can also get more explosive. As far as the actual game, he doesn’t have any weaknesses.”

A junior next season, 6’4 Kevin Branch will provide the Eagles with a dominating inside presence.

“Kevin will improve his shot this off-season,” Byrd said. “He needs to develop some consistency. He is going to work hard this off-season to bring his ball-handling skills up to that of a point guard.

“Once he does that he is going to be scary also. He’ll get bigger, stronger and faster and when he does that he is going to be one of the top players in America. We are real excited about him and Tweetie for next year.”