Southmoore Basketball Preview

Southmoore Basketball Preview

BY: Steve Marshall

After coming off a season that saw his SaberCats go 22-4 to make it to the state tournament, you wouldn’t think head coach Tim Stogsdill would classify the season as “disappointing.” But the SaberCats were one of the strongest teams in the state last year only to have the tournament canceled.

The SaberCats are looking to reload and make it to a third straight state tournament appearance in 6A.

“We graduated nine players off of a very talented team,” Stogsdill said. “We are a young group overall with strong guard play and great team chemistry committed to playing at a high tempo on both ends of the floor.”

Senior point guard Damian Kline (6’1) and forward Jamarion Butler (6’5) will bring the most varsity experience with tremendous floor leadership and state tournament experience.

Watch for this young team to really come together as the season moves along and be a bit of a sleeper team in 6A.

“You don’t know week to week with COVID-19 and with players being quarantined,” Stogsdill said. “We need to have guys ready to step in and contribute. So far this preseason, we are seeing that. It’s been really fun to see this group grow together in just a short time. Hopefully we can stay healthy and be playing our best basketball the end of February and sneak up on someone.”

Girls Team

Southmoore will look to rebound after a 1-22 season last year and fourth-year head coach Shawn Clark feels his team has some of the necessary ingredients to have a much better season.

“After picking up a couple of transfers and gaining two that will make us better, our expectations are to be more competitive on both ends of the floor,” Clark said. “As our young players gain more experience and confidence, I can see us increasing our win total of a year ago.”

Senior guard Kayla Nealy (5’10) is the lone returning starter for the SaberCats after averaging seven points per game to go along with four rebounds and two steals per contest.

“Nealy is my lone returning starter with the most varsity experience,” Clark said. “She’ll be the person we will rely on for our leadership, but I can see others will eventually step up.”

Clark sees that the strengths of the team will be chemistry, a high basketball IQ at all positions and team defense. The area that will need improvement is the inexperience on the varsity level which should improve as the season rolls on.– 19SM

36 December 2020