Sports
Indians basketball hits the hardwood
By GRIFFIN PRITCHARD - Herald Sports Editor
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Wetumpka High School’s basketball team has been taking advantage of their seven play dates. Last week, the Indians played host to Booker T. Washington, Notasulga, Elmore County and Marbury. Wetumpka walked away with four victories and one loss.
“Lanier beat us by about 15 points,” said Chris Washington, coach of the Indians. “We were able to hang with them until the last half.”
With a lone blemish on their record, the Indians are gearing up for a boatload of basketball over the next two weeks.
Washington and the Tribe will travel to Macon County June 12 for a rematch with Booker T. Washington and Notasulga.
“A school from Columbus, Ga., will be there and we’ll get to see Benjamin Russell there,” said Washington.
Wetumpka will actually go toe-to-toe with the 6A newcomer Wildcats in Prattville June 26.
“There’s going to be a lot of teams at Prattville, I know he’s got a lot coming to (Prattville’s) playdate,” said Washington.
Boy’s and girl’s high school basketball teams across the state of Alabama are able to play a select number of dates as a team due to a rule change in 2007 by the Alabama High School Athletic Association.
“A lot of kids didn’t play together in the summer,” said Washington.
“By the time the season started, they are still individualized for the most part. Playing in the summer allows kids the chance to mesh as a team and to work out some of the kinks that happen at the start of the season.”
It also gives coaches a chance to see their future area opponents.
Ever since becoming a 6A school, Wetumpka’s area has been one of the toughest in the state. The Indians competed against Sidney Lanier, Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis.
This year, due to the AHSAA’s decision to re-classify their members, the Indians will compete against Benjamin Russell, Stanhope Elmore and Auburn.
“Summer is a chance for us to work out any growing pains,” said Washington.
“We can work on some plays that we may not be able to put in once the season actually starts.”
While the number of games a team can play is unlimited during the summer, the squad can only play seven dates.
After the first date, however, Washington was able to see what his team needs to focus on improving, prior to the start of the season.
“Our fast break looks good,” said Washington. “But we need to work on our press and our defense needs to get back quicker. We need to improve on our free throws and work on our zone offense more.”
One advantage that Washington has coming into the 2008-2009 season is maturity.
“I expect to have 10 seniors playing for me this fall,” said Washington.
One of the key seniors that he’s going to look to is Kejuan Riley.
“He played big Thursday and was one our standouts against Lanier,” said Washington. “I expect him to do that during the season. He has to. He’s going to be a senior and he’s been a three-year starter. I expect him to step-up and lead.”
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