Capps Said Stone Success Begins With Lifting, Chemistry

With opening night just under a month away, Stone Memorial Boys Basketball Coach Neil Capps said the team is working hard on getting their mind and bodies conditioned for the long grind of the basketball season.

Entering his 13th season as Stone’s head coach, Capps said one of the only things he can be certain about is knowing how tough their 3A District 7 rivals will be. He said to separate your team from the pack, it begins with lifting weights, running the track and doing the little things during the off season.

“As anyone knows in the Upper Cumberland, this triple A league here in the Upper Cumberland is extremely competitive, very strong night in and night out,” Capps said. “It’s something you’ve got to be ready for and being ready for it starts in the preseason and in the weight room.”

The Panthers enter this season after graduating seven seniors from last years roster, four of which were starters. Capps said with their first week of the schedule being against some elite teams, the beginning of the season will present his players with adversity.

“We do understand we’ve lost seven seniors and that is not easily replaceable,” Capps said. “We’ve got some young mean really looking to step up, eager for the opportunity and looking forward to the challenge. But still, that’s not going to be easy.”

Capps said so far team chemistry has been a strength for the team and he noted that it is easy to tell the players are friends outside of basketball. He said their team chemistry will be tested to open the season.

“We haven’t hit that struggle yet and we will,” Capps said. “We were talking about that this week, what will we look like if we get on a three, four, five game losing streak, that’s struggle. Hopefully we will start getting where we want to be after Christmas.”