Bees Basketball Looking For New Contributors

With the Upperman football team in the playoffs and looking to make a run to Chattanooga, boys’ basketball head coach Bobby McWilliams said the overlap between season’s presents both challenges and opportunities.

The Bees basketball roster features four football players that, all of them being upperclassmen and all are solid contributors according to McWilliams. He said this gives him an opportunity to work with the others more in depth and is a good chance to build depth.

“So for us, there’s a lot of good that can come out of getting these other guys some experience,” McWilliams said. “But you sure would like to have your whole team when you start. But, it’s fine, we’ve learned how to deal with it and we’re hoping those guys have continued success. And we’ll be ready for them to get back when they get back.”

McWilliams said his current players understand their opportunity to play significant minutes early on and make a name for themselves. He said that he has been pleased with their pre-season intensity and efforts.

“These guys that are with me right now, they’re extremely locked in and focused on what we’re doing,” McWilliams said. “We spend a lot of time in the weight room and I think that was one of the first things that we needed to probably get straightened out and cleaned up a little bit was our overall strength. Because we’re so young, I’ve only got one senior and three juniors with me right now.”

With less than two weeks before their first regular season game, the Bees have a few scrimmages set to play. McWilliams said the goal of scrimmages can vary year to year depending on what situation the team is in.

He said with the football players leaving a chasm in experience, these scrimmages are designed for players to carve out a role for themselves.

“This year for us, it’s going to be getting these guys some experience,” McWilliams said. “You know, seeing how we’re going to have to play the first half of the year without our other guys that will come back after football. Letting those guys prove that they’re ready for a lot of quality minutes in peak times or big times when we’re playing in a highly competitive game after Christmas.”

The Bees open up their season at home versus Clay County on November 19.