Boys’ Basketball
Only three players are returning to a boys basketball team which finished 10-14 (4-10 in conference). However, many players think they have one thing going for them: chemistry.
“We lost a lot of talent,” senior forward Chaz Bailey said. “I think this year we have a connection and more chemistry between the players. I think that will really help us out.”
Many Chargers play on the same AAU team, the N.C. Eagles. Junior guard Christian Farrell says this will benefit them this season.
“We’re going to work on playing as a team, because that’s where we struggled last year,” Farrell said.
The Chargers will combat the loss of four starting seniors that included leading scorer Ti Pinnix (12.8 PPG), with the addition of senior forward Brian Harrington and senior guard Darius Horton. Both last played in their sophomore seasons.
“This is Coach [Alex] Hart’s second season, and I really like what he did with the program,” Harrington said. “I feel like we can be good this year.”
In Hart’s second season, he hopes to add a mentality that makes his players go all out all the time.
“You can never have the expectation of competing at the highest level if you don’t hold yourself to that same standard in practice, because ultimately you are what your habits dictate,” Hart said.
This year Hart will be focusing on the importance of each and every game. He felt that last year the team didn’t take some games seriously.
“Every single [game],” Hart said. “The big thing is taking care of your business, and when the season starts, get those non-conference wins to build your confidence.” Currently the boy’s team is 5-7. Over the winter break they won the Don Amos Holiday Invitational.
Girls’ Basketball
After finishing second in the conference last year, the girls’ basketball team is expecting big things this year.
“We are going to win the state championship,” junior guard Jazanae Billings said.
The girls will have to deal with the loss of their leading scorer Shontai Totten; the team will have to find a new source of points.
“I know we will miss her, and she played a big role on the team, but I think that we will do really well this year,” Billings said. “We have others who contributed to the team last year who are coming back.”
Senior forward Jazmine Atkins, who averaged 10.5 points per game before her season was cut short by an ACL injury, is a candidate for taking Totten’s place.
“I’d like to see Jazmine Atkins step up since it’s her senior year and she is coming off an ACL injury,” head coach Cameron Vernon said.
Four out of five starters will be returning. Atkins, Billings, junior guard Bryn Aydt and junior guard Kristian Eanes will all be back.
The Chargers will be running a small ball set this season. With three guards starting and without a true center, the Chargers will have to work extra hard to grab rebounds and defend the paint.
“Our attitudes will have to change and working hard in practice will have to be a priority,” sophomore guard Natalie Womble said. “Also, since we are not very big, we will have to have great basketball IQ.”
The girls will have to face the state runner up in Chapel Hill and a Southern Durham team that coach Vernon thinks will be much better. The girl’s team is currently 11-2 and won a Christmas Tournament over the winter break.
– By Tanner Althoff