CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Rotary Club/Kiwanis Basketball Tip-Off Luncheon was held Tuesday, Nov. 19 at First Baptist Church. Clarksville-Montgomery County area coaches were on hand to answer questions about their individual teams and outlook on the 2019-2020 season.
Northeast boys basketball coach Sam Young has become the first third-generation head coach to take over a Montgomery-County basketball program, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and now his father.
“It’s a true blessing to be here at Northeast,” Young said. “Coaching is something that has been in my family throughout my life. I played basketball for my dad, played in college, and got into coaching shortly after graduating. I love the game and helping student athletes.”
Before taking over for the Eagles, Young spent many successful years as the head coach for the girls’ team at Houston County. On Tuesday, he said his philosophy and approach to the boys’ game will remain the same for the most part.
“It’s still five-on-five,” Young said of a similarity between boys and girls basketball. “There are some challenges and differences. Obviously, the speed of the game is one. It hasn’t been a huge adjustment so far, but I’m ready for the challenge.”
Former Austin Peay women’s basketball player and current Northeast girls basketball coach Tracie Mason-Blair likes the effort she has seen from her team thus far.
“We’ve been working on becoming more consistent,” Mason-Blair said. “In order to do that, we can’t take a possession off. So far, I’d like to keep everyone healthy and see where we can go.”
In year two at the helm, Northwest girls basketball coach Ben Wallace hopes to continue the upward trajectory for the Lady Viking program.
“Aaron (Wallus) did a great job in turning the ship so to speak,” Wallace said. “It’s so hard to get the mindset to change for kids. I was fortunate that I got to takeover with an influx in talent. Last year was about learning to compete. It was interesting during the season as it went along that I felt better and better about being more competitive.”
Northwest isn’t necessarily short on talent, but Wallace understands it’ll take more than just ability to win games.
“Our ceiling can be pretty high,” Wallace said. “We think that we have the potential to play with anyone on our schedule. As I said that’s on paper and the games played on hardwood, so we have to prove that.”
Before taking over as the Northwest boys basketball coach, Aaron Wallus served in the same position for the Lady Vikings.
“I learned a lot about coaching different types of players,” Wallus said. “Trying to get guys bought in. It was a learning curve for me for sure, but I believe we tried to solidify a group of guys that really care about each other.”
During the luncheon, Wallus donned a Northwest hoody with a shield on the front of it. He shared what exactly the symbol is supposed to represent.
“Brotherhood,” Wallus said. “Doing everything together. Study hall, practice and just caring about each other.”
The Vikings will boast one of the best guard-forward tandems in all of the area in 2019-2020.
“Ametri Moss had a really good season last year,” Wallace said. “He’s an athletic player who can handle the ball. Jamal Mull is a football guy that plays basketball like he does football; physical and strong. We’ll depend on their leadership to lead us this year.”
Clarksville girls basketball coach Brian Rush believes having players that participate in multiple sports benefits his team in more ways than one.
“Our girls love to compete,” Rush said. “So many of them play other sports. I have one player who was the Volleyball Player of the Year this year, All-District in basketball last year and All-District in softball. Having a group like that is really fun to coach.”
Rush discussed what he thinks may set his team apart from the rest of the pack in District 10-AAA.
“We lost our two top scorers from last year,” Rush said. “This year we’re incredibly young but experienced at the same time. I have a group of juniors that have played varsity-level ball since they were freshmen.”
For the now most tenured coach in the Clarksville area, Clarksville boys basketball coach Ted Young believes this year may require him to become more acclimated to his team’s new playing style.
“This team really wants to score,” Young said. “I have some nice open-floor players. It’s going to be a difficult transition for me more than them in learning how to coach a 75 or 80-point ballgame, because I’ve always tried to hang our success on our half-court defense. I just have to adjust myself to the talent that the kids have.”
Young told a story of what exactly got him into the profession and gave insight into some of his influencers as an up-and-coming coach.
“I was very fortunate to be under C.M. Newton,” Young said. “I use things that he told me every day. I said at today’s practice that you’re either going to get better or you’re going to get worse; it’s up to you. You never stay the same.”
Many predict Clarksville Academy girls basketball to have another stellar season in 2019-20.
“We definitely have some talent returning from last year’s team,” said Clarksville Academy girls basketball coach Carrie Daniels. “I’m just proud of the girls. They’ve worked extremely hard in the offseason and in individual development. I think that’s going to be key for us as a team.”
Clarksville Academy boys basketball coach Matt Wallace discussed the difficulty of overcoming key departures.
“We lost two seniors from last year’s team,” Wallace said. “They were two outstanding guards for us. Losing Noah Parker and Nolan Johnson has hurt us a little bit. I think we’re going to be able to compete in our district and it should be a good year.”
For Kenwood girls basketball coach Charles Clark, a lack of experience is an obstacle the Knights will have to overcome in order to be successful this season.
“Right now, we have 17 girls in the program and 12 of them are underclassmen,” Clark said. “They’re talented and they get after it. Some of those young girls just love to play and I’m excited about that. I’m not really worried so much about the record, but I just want to develop some habits that will take us through the season.”
Clark expects his group to achieve their goals for the year by keeping things simple and sticking to their game plan.
“We focus on the fundamentals and trying to do things right,” Clark said. “We’re not trying to have 30 plays or 30 things in. We want to be solid defensively and be best at giving effort every single time.”
Kenwood boys basketball coach Jason James gave his thoughts on what makes District 10-AAA as competitive as it is.
“There are a lot of great coaches in this district,” James said. “I think every night there is someone on the sideline that can call a set or draw up a play to get their team a basket. It’s not like that everywhere. I think they do a good job of putting players in the right positions to be successful.”
The Knights have a few upperclassmen to keep an eye out for during their senior campaigns.
“Scooter is someone we count on obviously,” James said. “He’s gotten a lot better from a maturity standpoint and is starting to become a leader. Kevin McIntosh is a senior for us. We just try to focus on guys showing up every day, being at their absolute best on the floor and in the classroom and just going from there.”
Improving in all facets of the game is something Montgomery Central girls basketball coach Corey Bucciarelli expects to see from his team this season.
“The good thing right now is that we’re starting to have girls who are learning to compete,” Bucciarelli said. “They’re tired of getting beat. We try to keep score in everything that we do, so they can get that edge.”
Bucciarelli believes his team is taking the strides it needs from a progression standpoint.
“We’re just pushing them to be better than they were last year,” Bucciarelli said. “Now with some experience, the game is starting to slow down for them. I think we’re going to put a better product on the floor.”
Montgomery Central boys basketball coach Mike Brown has taken the reigns to the program after Jimmy Young stepped down from the position after 35 years.
“It’s big shoes to fill,” Brown said. “He’s a legend, and I have a lot of respect for him. We’ve been friends for a long time. All I can do is try to carry on the tradition and make him proud.”
Brown believes having already taught at the school and serving on the boys basketball staff last season will benefit him greatly.
“I have a big advantage because I’ve been at Montgomery Central for a long time,” Brown said. “I didn’t have to learn a new environment. Everyone is behind me, and I feel a lot of love and support. It’s been an easy transition as far as that goes.”
Learning to compete is the primary objective West Creek girls basketball coach Asia Hindman wants her team to focus on.
“Teaching how to compete is probably the hardest thing to do out there,” Hindman said. “X’s and O’s are easy, but if you don’t have a competitive heart it makes the game very difficult.”
West Creek boys basketball coach Russell Malone discussed the challenges that turnover often presents year in and year out.
“Every group that comes in is a little bit different than the previous group,” Malone said. “I think in year six I’m really comfortable with my surroundings, student body, and administration. I enjoy being at West Creek it’s a good place.”
The Coyotes will have one of the more dynamic players in the area this season in Kamarie Coffey.
“We have one returning starter,” Malone said. “He’s played varsity for two years and he was probably our best player down the stretch of last year. When you go back and look at the stats, he was averaging about 17 points a game and seven or eight rebounds a game.”
Recent history has suggested that Rossview girls basketball is the cream of the crop in District 10-AAA.
“This year is different,” said Justin Woods, Rossview girls basketball coach. “Losing a three-year starter at point changes things. There’s been some growing pains over the summer and early, but it’s getting there.”
The Lady Hawks talent is undeniable as two players recently signed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level.
“Yesterday, Maggie Croom, who is a senior forward for us, signed with Freed-Hardeman University which is where I went to school,” Woods said. “Her older sister is a senior and All-American there. Kayla Gilmore, a post player for us signed with Bethel. It’s exciting.”
Figuring out how to replace the production lost from a previous season, is crucial in coaching. Rossview boys basketball coach Johnny Jackson will look to answer the bell in 2019-20.
“We lost 25 percent of our scoring, rebounding and pretty much everything,” Jackson said. “We lost five senior starters and we’re young. It’s a big turnover. We’re going to have to work a little bit harder while playing a schedule that’s going to test us early.”
Jackson shared what it was in particular that got him into coaching.
“It’s just been in my blood since I was little,” Jackson said. “I’ve had some great influences as coaches. I just wanted to give back to the kids and it’s been so good for me.”