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.