Middle school basketball starts a new season with great potential. The team is under new management this year with Shane Kesler and Preston Guiot. The boys are practicing hard and as much as possible, working on basic ball handling, passing, and shooting drills.

Coach Kesler says that any team can lose at any given time so his goal is to stay focused on the overall goal of playing to their full potential and taking it one game at a time. He wants to prepare the boys for high school by creating a sense of brotherhood between both 7th and 8th grade boys.

January 6th, they kicked off their first game of the season at buffalo. The 7th grade lost the game 51-16. The 8th grade starters, Logan Holliman, Kamron Stacey, Rhett Hill, Kyle Stacey and Joshua Thompson, got a lead in the first quarter 13-12, but they fell behind in the second quarter and could not close the gap, losing 50-30. Kamron Stacey (8) explained that they needed to work together more and run the plays more efficiently.

January 8th, the boys played the Forsyth Panthers at Forsyth. The 7th grade started off strong with a 20-6 lead at half, finishing the game with a win, 33-8. Sam Rutherford (7) says, “I think we hustled a lot and played as a team.” The 8th grade rallied with the Panthers, but ending the game losing 37-20.

January 9th, the boys played their first home game against Hollister. The 7th grade started off strong, even though it wasn’t a high scoring game, it was filled with intensity, ending the game 20-14. The 8th grade went point for point in the first quarter, but fell to Hollister, 41-26. Kamron Stacey says, “I think we are improving each game and it will get better from here.”

The 7th grade are currently at 2-1 record and the 8th grade have a 0-3 record.