Boys high school basketball preview

Billingsley Bears

Coach

J.T. Lawrence (third season)

Roster

Lerobert Bandy-So.-G

Denzell Callens-So.-C

Carlos Caver-Sr.-F/G

Isaac Edwards-Sr.-G

Daryl Gardner-Sr.-C

Torrey Green-Jr.-G

Garrett Price-Jr.-G

Donald Smith-So.-F

Justin Snow-Jr.-F/G

A.J. Tyus-Sr.-G

Telvin Tyus-So.-G

Trey Tyus-Jr.-F/C

Preston Wallace-Sr.-G

Schedule

11/18 at Verbena

11/19 Sipsey Valley

11/21 at Chilton Co.

11/29 at Autaugaville

12/9 at Thorsby*

12/10 Verbena

12/19 at Isabella*

1/3 at R.C. Hatch*

1/5 Thorsby*

1/6 Maplesville

1/13 R.C. Hatch*

1/17 at Francis Marion*

1/19 Isabella*

1/20 at Maplesville

1/24 Francis Marion*

1/26 Dallas Co.

1/30 Autaugaville

1/31 Chilton Co.

2/3 at Dallas Co.

Outlook

Billingsley this season should get to play in a new gymnasium, adjacent to the school, which is scheduled to be completed in early- to mid-December. The Bears will try to wear the new floor out fast with an up-tempo approach. “We are excited to return all of our players from last year and to add a few young sophomores to the group,” coach J.T. Lawrence said.

Chilton Christian Patriots

Coach

Todd Stephens (second season)

Roster

2-Matthew Klein-Sr.-G

4-Will Hamby-Sr.-F

5-Chris Lassinger-Jr.-G

11-Nick Haube-8th-G

12-Alex Dawson-So.-G

13-Josh Burns-Fr.-G

15-Ashton Basler-So.-G

23-Zack Pittman-Fr.-F

25-Jonathan Burns-Sr.-F

30-Kevin Kemp-Fr.-F

50-Ryan Powell-Jr.-F

Schedule

11/10 at Glen Iris (L)

11/15 at Marion Academy

11/18 Conecuh Springs

11/21 Trinity Christian

12/2 at Conecuh Springs

12/6 Brooklane Baptist

1/6 at Brooklane Baptist

1/10 at Cahawba Christian*

1/13 Marion Academy*

1/17 at Victory-Millbrook*

1/20 Cahawba Christian*

1/24 Victory-Millbrook*

2/3 at Flint Hill*

2/6 at Tuscaloosa Christian

2/9 at Trinity Christian

2/10 Glen Iris

Outlook

Chilton Christian Academy coach Todd Stephens said he expects this year’s team to be faster and more athletic than last year’s Patriots. “We’ve got really good chemistry, and we’ve got a lot more experience this year than we had last year,” he said.

Chilton Co. Tigers

Coach

Cain Young (second season)

Roster

1-Dontavious Patterson-Jr.-G

2-Jamarcus Williams-So.-G

3-Richard Hilliard-Jr.-F

4-Vadall Morrow-Jr.-C

5-Davre Willaims-So.-F

10-Chance Britnell-Jr.-G

12-Weston Harris-Sr.-G

14-Racquez Cora-So.G

20-Brandon Baker-Jr.-F

24-Richard Price-Jr.-G

30-Nick Looney-Jr.-F

32-Dyquan Floyd-Sr.-F

44-Jarvis Rogers-Sr.-F

52-Delondre DeJarnett-Sr.-C

Schedule

11/17 Holtville

11/21 Billingsley

11/28 at Verbena

11/29 at Chelsea

12/2 at Jemison

12/9 Tuscaloosa-Central*

12/10 at Marbury

12/12 Chelsea

12/13 at Holtville

12/16 at Brookwood*

12/20-22 at Childersburg Tournament

12/27-29 at Calera Tournament

1/3 Brookwood

1/5 Maplesville

1/6 at Paul Bryant*

1/9-14 Chilton County Tournament

1/17 Paul Bryant*

1/20 at Tuscaloosa-Central*

1/26 at Maplesville

1/27 Marbury

1/31 at Billingsley

2/3 Jemison

Outlook

In his second season, coach Cain Young will have an inexperienced squad, one that includes just three seniors and not many players with varsity experience. “We only return four players that have ever seen any varsity action, so we’ll have to grow up in a hurry,” Young said.

Isabella Mustangs

Coach

Scott Booth (second season)

Roster

Trey Calfee-Jr.

Deonte Campbell-Jr.

DeRodgus Campbell-So.

Tyler Edwards-Jr.

Wade Jolley-Sr.

Derrick Manning-So.

Andrew Parker-Sr.

D.J. Talley-So.

Andrew Smith-Jr.

Hunter Smith-Jr.

Schedule

11/21-22 at Shades Mountain Tournament

11/29 Francis Marion*

12/8 Indian Springs

12/9 at Francis Marion*

12/13 at Verbena

12/15 Thorsby*

12/16 at Victory Christian*

12/19 Billingsley*

1/2 Verbena

1/6 at Thorsby*

1/19 at Billingsley*

1/20 at R.C. Hatch*

1/23 Jemison

1/26 R.C. Hatch*

1/27 Victory Christian*

1/30 Maplesville

1/31 at Indian Springs

2/2 at Maplesville

Outlook

Trey Calfee and D.J. Talley are Isabella’s only two returning starters, and even they were part-time starters in 2010-11, Scott Booth’s first year coaching the team. “We’re going to be inexperienced to say the least,” Booth said. “But we’ve got some athletes out there. We’re going to see what they can do.”

Jemison Panthers

Coach

Van Clements (first season)

Roster

Jacob Bass-Sr.

Corey Benson-Sr.

Tre Bryant-Sr.

Jeremiah Gates-Jr.

Jalen Hardnett-Sr.

Ben Howard-Sr.

Eddie Hubbard-Sr.

Dylan Higgins-Jr.

Marquis Lawrence-Sr.

Austin Lovette-Jr.

Chase McCary-Sr.

Randy Satterfield-So.

Javae Swindle-Sr.

John Underwood-So.

Schedule

11/28 at Holtville

11/29 Westminster (at Samford University)

12/2 Chilton County

12/5 Isabella

12/6 at Verbena

12/9 Bibb County*

12/12 Southside-Selma*

12/13 Dallas County*

12/20 Maplesville

1/3 Verbena

1/6 at Bibb County*

1/20 at Southside-Selma*

1/23 at Isabella

1/24 Westminster

1/27 Montevallo

1/30 at Montevallo

1/31 at Maplesville

2/3 at Chilton Co.

2/6 Holtville

Outlook

Jemison returns four of five starters from last season, not including Zak Kaylor. New coach Van Clements said he wants the Panthers to improve each game. “We want to play good defense and shoot well from the outside, but we will have the players who can score on the inside as well,” Clements said. “I ask the kids to believe in what we are doing, and we will be successful.”

Maplesville Red Devils

Coach

Eric Bailey (10th season)

Roster

Apollos Abercrombie-Sr.

Cameron Andrews-Jr.

Kelvin Hall-Jr.

Anthony Johnson-Jr.

Jarnez Marzette-Sr.

Brandon Morrow-Jr.

Cameron Morrow-Sr.

Devonte Morrow-So.

Neal Ousley-So.

Demetrius Parker-Sr.

Brandon Shields-Jr.

Keith Shields-Sr.

Schedule

12/1 Thorsby

12/2 Akron*

12/8 Autaugaville*

12/9 Verbena

12/20 at Jemison

1/3 Keith*

1/5 at Chilton Co.

1/6 at Billingsley

1/17 at Autaugaville*

1/19 Sunshine*

1/20 Billingsley

1/23 at Thorsby

1/24 at Keith*

1/26 Chilton County

1/30 at Isabella

1/31 Jemison

2/2 Isabella

2/3 at Verbena

Outlook

With a roster heavy on seniors (there are five of them) and several underclassmen also capable of contributing, Maplesville will look to make a splash both in the county and in the postseason.

Thorsby Rebels

Coach

Ryan Powell (second season)

Roster

1-Jagger Cook-So.-G

2-Parker Bryan-Jr.-G

3-Jeffrey Thornton-Sr.-F

5-Michael Daniel-Jr.-G

10-Cameron Castleberry-So.-G

13-Chase Gottier-Jr.-G

21-Nolan Hayes-Jr.-G

24-Daniel Thornton-Jr.-G

25-Taylor Gunn-Jr.-G

32-Bradley Evans-Jr.-F

33-Nathan Oldroyd-Jr.-F

42-James Dubuisson-Sr.-F

Schedule

11/15 at Verbena

11/17 Fayetteville

11/18 Alabama Christian

11/29 at R.C. Hatch*

12/1 at Maplesville

12/2 Montgomery Catholic

12/9 Billingsley*

12/13 Francis Marion*

12/15 at Isabella*

12/19 Verbena

12/20 at Francis Marion*

1/3 Elmore County

1/5 at Billingsley*

1/6 Isabella*

1/17 at Elmore County

1/19 at Montgomery Catholic

1/23 Maplesville

1/24 R.C. Hatch*

1/27 at Fayetteville

2/2 at Alabama Christian

Outlook

With a wealth of experience and talent at the guard position, Thorsby this season will further implement coach Ryan Powell’s fast-paced approach.

Verbena Red Devils

Coach

Mark Cleckler (first season)

Roster

Jon Cleckler-So.

Marquez Deramus-Sr.

Jared Mims-So.

Brady Pope-Jr.

T.J. Ray-Fr.

Jalen White-So.

Jacob Wilson-So.

Jaryus Wilson-So.

Fred Wright-Jr.

Schedule

11/15 Thorsby

11/18 Billingsley

11/28 Chilton County

12/6 Jemison

12/9 at Maplesville

12/10 at Billingsley

12/13 Isabella

12/19 at Thorsby

12/20 at Notasulga*

1/2 at Isabella

1/3 at Jemison

1/6 St. Jude*

1/17 at Loachapoka*

1/24 at St. Jude*

1/27 Notasulga*

1/31 Loachapoka*

2/3 Maplesville

Outlook

Though missing last year’s coach and several key players, new coach Mark Cleckler and the Red Devils may benefit from playing 10 of their first 11 games inside The Clanton Advertiser’s coverage area. “Coach Shedd will be sorely missed this year, but we will try and build on what he has accomplished in the last few seasons,” Cleckler said.

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