Summer is normally the time basketball teams start to focus on the year ahead.
COVID-19 practice restrictions made the task nearly impossible this year. Teams were limited to a few weeks of conditioning with minimal preparation spent using basketballs and running scrimmages.
“We conditioned for about two weeks then had the dead week (at the beginning of July),” coach Jordan Hice said. “After that, there were some cases popping up, we had some cases popping up, and football was starting and we really didn’t do anything after that. The very last week we couldn’t run plays but we were allowed to shoot so we did shooting drills. We never really got any time to practice.”
Players normally play multiple games when attending camps and are exposed to a wide variety of players. The loss of that aspect had the Cats playing catchup through the preseason in the weeks leading up to the tipoff tournament.
“There’s a lot of things you could have worked out over that summer practice,” Hice said. “We’re normally playing 25 to 30 games over the summer. You get to see a lot of what you’re expecting to see. Really, I have no idea what I’m going to get out of some of these players because I haven’t really seen them play.”
Hice hopes the loss of summer scrimmages will be mitigated by a varsity roster that only graduated one senior. However, Carson Pierce missed nearly all of last season with an injury and has been recovering through the preseason. Cade Carter was injured during football season and Braden Jenkins just wrapped up his season on the gridiron.
“You have that veteran group, but we lost Carson and you don’t really know what he is going to give so it will be good to get him back. You know what Cade and Braden are going to give you,” Hice said.
“That’s still two of those starters (Carter and Jenkins) who got most of the playing time last year and someone else has had to fill their shoes. Just trying to figure out who is going to do that has been difficult.”
The Bobcats continue to practice after school but also meet before classes start each morning. The early session gives Hice an opportunity to focus on five-on-five half court work.
“It gives us about an hour in the morning so I don’t have to spend so much time teaching plays and correcting plays during practice (after school),” Hice said. “We get in that game situation type stuff.”
Last year’s team posted a 11-12 record and missed advancing to the state tournament. The Bobcats return four starters, though the aforementioned three will be eased into the lineup.
Hice noted that Pierce should be back by Christmas at the latest. Carter was medically cleared last Tuesday and Jenkins played his last football game two days before the season opener against Copper Basin.
“You’re hoping you are in the same boat you were in last year and staying in a bunch of games, but we’re also switching to a new region, so it’s all up in the air,” Hice said. “A lot is depending on how good this new region is and how well we match up with them. A lot has to do with matchups.”
Hice discussed the Bobcats’ strengths and what they do well as a team.
“We always give effort and that’s never been one of our issues,” he said. “They’re very coachable and willing to work and get out of their comfort zone. Now it’s about pushing them farther out from their comfort zone and putting them in roles they’re not used to playing. They adapt well, and they’re dedicated. It’s not easy to show up each morning at 6:15.”
On the flip side, Hice is hoping for an improvement on the defensive end.
“The biggest area we could change and improve is if we can pick up our defense and play more aggressively in practice. Then that it will make our offense better,” he said. “It’s going to help simulate the games.”
Returning starters include senior guards Jenkins and Pierce and junior Ethan Banks. Senior Brady Sanford returns to the wing and Carter is back in the post for his junior season.
Britt Taylor, Mark Tyson, Dylan Abercrombie and Lewis Mulkey are all expected to be heavy contributors and will see time in the starting lineup as well.
Gilmer will continue to push the pace and run the ball up and down the court as much as possible. As the three-point shot continues to be a weapon for most teams, Hice expects the Bobcats to play mostly man defense.
“We’re looking for improvement,” Hice said of his varsity roster. “The thing we shoot for is every time getting better and learning something new. We keep talking about getting out of your comfort zone. You’ve got to get out of your comfort zone and make it uncomfortable for someone else. We want to see that growth not only as a player but as an individual.”
GHS dropped from Class 4A to 3A and entered a new region. GHS will need to finish in the top four at the region tournament to reach state. Hice discussed what the Bobcats are up against.
“We’ve already heard Dawson has three new senior transfers in this year. White is going to be good. Cherokee Bluff is a new school but they’re going to be good and probably win the region. North Hall has always been good,” he said.
“We may all have similar enrollments, but most of these teams are from one big area with a bunch of schools they can go to. Kids are picking and choosing, and there’s athletes all over the place. We know these teams are going to be athletic, quick, tall and fast. You just have to try to adapt to that.”
Tipoff victory
The Bobcats started their season at the ETC/Piedmont Mountainside Tipoff Tournament last Saturday and defeated Copper Basin, 42-35.
The Bobcats limped to a 15-14 lead at the half and the Cougars were able to even the score at 33-all. GHS went on a 9-0 run to put Basin away for a season opening victory.