Page 20 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2020
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Highlanders
Star PhotoDawn Lambert
2020-2021 Cloudland Highlanders
Highlanders look to be fast-paced, gritty BY IVAN SANDERS STAR SPORTS EDITOR ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
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Tyler Chambers Head Coach
ook around at any basketball program and one will find that the team many times takes on the persona of its head coach. With that being the case, first-year head coach Tyler Chambers of the Cloudland Highlanders looks to instill the same tenacity that the played with as a former Highlander and has carried over into his coaching career to this point. And even though high school is differ-
ent from youth club and middle school teams, Chambers is working hard to make sure that when the foot of a Highlander player hits the hardwood, they exhibit the same drive that Chambers possesses. “I expect us to be tough and gritty,” said Chambers in previewing his expectations for his first team at the helm of his alma mater. “I expect them to give 100 percent all the time and we will be fast-paced getting up and down the court.” Chambers is fully aware of the confer-
ence and the expectations that he has stepped into and having played in the conference some things haven’t changed. “It’s a tough conference,” Chambers said. “I played in it and have been around it and in my opinion its one of the toughest in the whole state. “I think transitioning to the head coach position will be a smooth one as it has been so far. We have had a good couple of days of practice after getting the guys back from football.” While many veteran coaches are having a tough time preparing for a season that no one knows what one day will hold from another, Chambers will quickly have to adapt and make sure his team knows that nothing is a given this season. “We stress that everyday,” Chambers said about the scenario surrounding the current pandemic. “We tell them that in the locker room – especially for the seniors there is a level of uncertainty. “We may play all our games or none of our games. The season may be cut short. If we do the best we can every day, we will come out all right.” In shaking out the conference, Chambers sees North Greene, Hampton, University High, and Unaka being tough customers to handle in the tough conference. “My players know it’s a tough conference and that they will need to put forth 100 percent effort to expect to compete with them. To be below that 100 percent level is something I am not fond of.” From a competitive standpoint, Chambers wants to get the Highlanders back into contention for a district championship – something they haven’t experienced in about nine years. With that being said, he feels that his teams need to be able to compete for substate and state berths as well. “My goals are big,” Chambers added. “Morally, I want to show these guys an example of what a good person is and to be a good role model to them. I want to show them God’s love in me and express that outwardly.”
