Boys:
The Northwood boys hope to rebound from a season in which they only won five games, none of which were conference wins. The team failed to make the state playoffs last year but hopes to return to the program’s former glory.
“We just need to get better every single day,” head coach Alex Hart said. “It’s a very enthusiastic group, they’ve played together for a very long time.”
The team will be losing four seniors and will be bringing back two starters: Gordan Brann and William Peace University commit Christian Farrell. They hope to get great defense and energy from seniors like Jaquan Headen and Birch Newell. Senior Montey Thomas has experience at point guard under his belt, which Hart hopes will help the team.
“Our biggest challenge is overcoming the doubt,” Farrell said. “It’s been hard because a lot of people are doubting us. If we work hard and work together we can overcome the doubt and do big things.”
The boys are currently 0-1 with a three point loss at Northern Durham on November 29.
Girls:
Just two games into the team’s season, three players have suffered knee injuries. Two of which will end the season for senior Jazanae Billings (10.2 ppg last year) and junior Erika Nettles (7 ppg last year). While senior leader Bryn Aydt wants to win the conference and make a run in states, they will have to overcome the adversity of losing three key players.
“Right now we are just trying to find players who can fill in the spots for the injured players,” head coach Cameron Vernon said.
Players like freshman forward Chandler Adams will have to pick up the slack for the injured players.
The Northwood girls are coming off a 25-5 season (10-2 in conference) and a trip to the third round. They lost three players to graduation and will be returning six seniors including Aydt, who committed to Mars Hill, and Kristian Eanes, who committed to Queens University.
“This year we need more people to be comfortable on the court,” Aydt said. “they need to have confidence and not surround their game with fear.”
The girls are currently 3-0 with two wins of over 30 points.
– By Tanner Althoff
