Boys basketball preview
Published 10:02 pm Thursday, November 19, 2009
Billingsley Bears
Coach J.T. Lawrence (first season)
How the season ended Lost to Autaugaville, 47-45, in the Class 1A, Area 6 tournament
Roster
Perry Brown-Sr.
Raphael Brooks-Sr.
Wes Lawrence-Sr.
Scott Crocker-Sr.
Webster Davis-Sr.
Mario Reese-Sr.
Isaac Edwards-So.
Carlos Caver-So.
Garrett Price-Fr.
Trey Tyus-Fr.
Torri Green-Fr.
Justin Snow-Fr.
Schedule
Nov. 23: at Verbena
Nov. 30: Akron*
Dec. 1: Isabella
Dec. 11: Holy Spirit*
Dec. 12: Verbena
Dec. 14: Marbury
Dec. 17: Autauga County Tournament
Jan. 5: at Maplesville*
Jan. 7: at Autaugaville*
Jan. 11: at Marbury
Jan. 12: at Akron*
Jan. 19: at Holy Spirit*
Jan. 21: Autaugaville*
Jan. 22: Thorsby
Jan. 25: at Isabella
Jan. 26: Maplesville*
Jan. 28: at Thorsby
Outlook Mario Reese, Carlos Caver and Raphael Brooks are all returning starters and will be counted upon to provide most of the scoring. Reese and Garrett Price will be responsible for bringing the ball down the court most times instead of departed point guard Bryant Reese.
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Chilton County Tigers
Coach Donnie Hand (12th season)
2008-09 record 15-10
Roster
Taylor Hughes-Sr.
Josh Williams-Sr.
Grantland Karn-Jr.
Nelson Williams-Jr.
Darnell Spears-Sr.
Joseph Looney-Jr.
Delondre Dejarnett-So.
Blake Norman-Jr.
Anthony Atchison-Jr.
Montel Wilkes-Jr.
Jerry Agee-Jr.
William Cooper-Jr.
Schedule
Nov. 24: at Holtville
Dec. 1: Selma*
Dec. 3: at Briarwood
Dec. 4: Chelsea
Dec. 8: at Jemison
Dec. 11: Prattville
Dec. 14: at Carver-Montgomery*
Dec. 17: Maplesville
Dec. 18: Demopolis*
Dec. 22: at Prattville
Jan. 5: at Selma*
Jan. 7: at Marbury
Jan. 8: at Maplesville
Jan. 19: Carver-Montgomery*
Jan. 21: Holtville
Jan. 22: at Demopolis*
Jan. 26: Briarwood
Jan. 28: at Chelsea
Jan. 29: Marbury
Feb. 2: Jemison
Outlook Chilton County coach Donnie Hand said his team will play with five guards on the court at times in an effort to get the best players on the floor. However, a lack of overall depth will likely mean the Tigers won’t be able to play pressure defense like they have in the past, and especially last season.
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Isabella Mustangs
Coach Lanny Jones (first season)
How the season ended Lost to Pickens Co., 72-43, in the Class 2A, Area 7 tournament
Roster
25-Austin Anderson-Sr.
14-Ricky Burt-Jr.
4-Sawyer Cahalane-So.
42-Dylan Green-Jr.
1-Austin Haigler-Jr.
2-Adam Jones-Sr.
21-Blake Lawley-Sr.
3-JD Lenoir-Jr.
50-Hunter Mims-Sr.
5-Evan Russell-Sr.
34-Cody Smith-Jr.
24-Willie Stacy-Sr.
Schedule
Nov. 16: at Verbena (L, 51-37)
Nov. 23: at Shades Mtn. Invitational
Dec. 1: at Billingsley
Dec. 4: at Maplesville
Dec. 5: Pickens Co.*
Dec. 7: Verbena
Dec. 8: at Indian Springs
Dec. 11: Jemison
Dec. 15: Hale Co.*
Dec. 17: at American Christian*
Jan. 4: Maplesville
Jan. 8: Thorsby
Jan. 18: at Hale Co.*
Jan. 19: American Christian*
Jan. 22: Pickens Co.*
Jan. 25: Billingsley
Jan. 26: at Jemison
Jan. 29: at Thorsby
Outlook Isabella lost most of its scoring from last year to graduation. Also gone are the team’s two main post players. So, the Mustangs this year will try to steal points with fast breaks and then slow the game down on defense.
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Jemison Panthers
Coach Stacy McGehee (first season)
Roster
10-Demtrich Strong-Jr.
12-Zac Kaylor-Jr.
14-Cornelius Strong-Sr.
20-David King-Jr.
22-Scottie Hall-Sr.
24-Trey Bryant-So.
30-Chase McCary-So.
32-Brandon Jones-Sr.
34-Javae Swindle-So.
40-Isa Bentley-Jr.
Schedule
Nov. 24: at Verbena
Dec. 1: at Montevallo
Dec. 3: at Holt*
Dec. 8: Chilton Co.
Dec. 11: at Isabella
Dec. 15: Thorsby
Dec. 17: Bibb Co.*
Jan. 5: at Calera*
Jan. 7: Holt*
Jan. 8: Verbena
Jan. 19: Calera*
Jan. 22: at Bibb Co.*
Jan. 26: Isabella
Jan. 29: Montevallo
Feb. 1: at Thorsby
Feb. 2: at Chilton Co.
Outlook Junior forward Isa Bentley, senior forward Brandon Jones, junior guard Zac Kaylor, junior forward David King and senior point guard Cornelius Strong are the Panthers with varsity experience. They’ll be joined by four players off last year’s B-team—sophomore Trey Bryant, sophomore Chase McCary, junior Demtrich Strong and sophomore Javae Swindle—and one newcomer to the program, senior forward Scottie Hall. Hall has already earned a starting position, McGehee said, and will need to play well for Jemison to overcome its lack of size down low.
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Maplesville Red Devils
Coach Eric Bailey (eighth season)
2008-09 record 1-14
Schedule
Dec. 4: Isabella
Dec. 8: at Akron*
Dec. 11: at Dallas Co.
Dec. 15: at Autaugaville*
Dec. 17: at Chilton Co.
Dec. 18: Akron*
Jan. 4: at Isabella
Jan. 5: Billingsley*
Jan. 7: at Holy Spirit*
Jan. 8: Chilton Co.
Jan. 14: Autaugaville*
Jan. 22: Holy Spirit*
Jan. 25: Dallas Co.
Jan. 26: at Billingsley*
Roster
Maplesville’s roster has not been finalized
Outlook If point guard Brian Bailey can return successfully from a knee injury that cost him his football season, the Red Devils will be almost the same team from last season. Coach Eric Bailey will just hope a year’s worth of experience will lead to improvement.
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Thorsby Rebels
Coach Corey Clements (fifth season)
2008-09 record 10-11
How the season ended Lost to Vincent, 75-53, in the Class 2A, Area 9 tournament
Roster
1-Andrew Farris-Jr.
3-Aaron Thornton -So.
11-Evan Bryan -Sr.
13-Parker Bryan-Fr.
15-Marcus Bray-Jr.
21-Jeremiah Good -Jr.
23-Jace Maddox-So.
25-Blake Elkins-Jr.
31-Eric Camarillo-Jr.
33-Nathan Oldroyd-Fr.
Schedule
Nov. 20: Verbena
Dec. 3: Winterboro
Dec. 4: at Vincent*
Dec. 8: Fultondale*
Dec. 11: at Shades Mtn.*
Dec. 15: at Jemison
Dec. 21: at Verbena
Jan. 5: at Verbena
Jan. 7: at Fultondale*
Jan. 8: at Isabella
Jan. 19: Shades Mtn.*
Jan. 21: Vincent*
Jan. 22: at Billingsley
Jan. 26: at Winterboro
Jan. 28: Billingsley
Jan. 29: Isabella
Feb. 1: Jemison
Outlook Only three players—Marcus Bray, Evan Bryan and Andrew Farris—return from last year’s team. The most significant losses might be starting post players Daniel Farris and Nathan Thornton. The Rebels this year will be a more perimeter-oriented team, coach Corey Clements said.
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Verbena Red Devils
Coach Jonathan Shedd (second season)
2008-09 record 0-22
Roster
2-Brandon White-Sr.
3-Blake Bell-Sr.
5-Phillip Hensley -Fr.
10-Brady Pope-Fr.
12-Jeronskie Williams-Fr.
20-Marquez Deramus-So.
22-Christian Coston-So.
23/32-Brad Boswell-Sr.
41-Jason Ray-Sr.
Schedule
Nov. 16: Isabella (W, 51-37)
Nov. 19: Marbury
Nov. 20: at Thorsby
Nov. 23: Billingsley
Nov. 24: Jemison
Nov. 30: at Loachapoka*
Dec. 4: at Edward Bell*
Dec. 5: at Wadley*
Dec. 7: at Isabella
Dec. 11: Edward Bell*
Dec. 12: at Billingsley
Dec. 17: at Notasulga*
Dec. 18-21: Verbena Christmas Tournament
Dec. 28-30 at Oak Grove Christmas Tournament
Jan. 5: Thorsby
Jan. 7: Loachapoka*
Jan. 8: at Jemison
Jan. 18: Notasulga*
Jan. 22: Wadley*
Jan. 25: at Marbury
Jan. 26: Holtville
Jan. 28: at Montgomery Catholic
Outlook Verbena played 17 exhibition games over the summer, and the Red Devils are reaping the benefits. On Nov. 16, the team won its first game since the 2006 season.
*-area game