CCHS boys ready to win

CCHS Lions- Maika Fonoti, Josh Walkup, Jake Walkup, Quentin McMackins, Anton Knox, Cole George, Austin Duggin, Treyton Fann, Lane Willis, Dale Thompson, Brandon Miles, Charlie Parrish, Jacob Raines, Justin Whited, Dalton Hillis, Brady Sissom, Mason Meade, Jacob Brock, Braxton Gilley, Luke Jakes, Brad Phillips, Blake Bush, Wade Love, Luke Alexander, Duncan Cook, Brady Cunningham, Brady Smithson.

By DAVID HUNTER

Two seasons ago, the Cannon County boys' basketball team fell one game short of advancing to the state tournament for the first time in three decades.

Last season, the Lions fell to 10-21, and this year they want to get back to their winning ways and compete for a district title.

"I am really excited," CCHS guard Cole George said. "I think we have a chance to do something special this year."

Some of the things which hurt the Lions last season was a lack of chemistry, injuries to key players, and tough competition inside the district. Returning head coach and CCHS athletic director Matt Rigsby hopes for better success this season. However, it all starts on the court and off the floor in terms of developing the necessary chemistry to compete in one of the toughest districts in Class AA.

"We want to grow up off the floor, and we have seen an improvement in that area during the off-season," Rigsby said.

George added, "Chemistry is probably the most important thing. That way we are all playing together and we all have been brothers since we were younger. We have played together in AAU, and Coach Rigsby has done a great job with all of us. This summer we got to play with each other, and we have known each other for so long. We had a pretty successful camp this year."

Gone are key members of the Sub-State, and district champion team from two seasons ago, including Austin Martin and Briar Jakes. However, a lot of youth and experience returns to the Lions including Cole George, Austin Duggin, Brandon Miles and Charlie Parrish. All four were young only in class, but each of them gained valuable playing time last season, which will only help the Lions heading into this season.

However, the Lions will be led by the fearless five, who has made their marks on campus in other sports, and they hope it carries over to the hardwood this season. Those five seniors know each other well, and they were part of the reason the football team had its best season in a few years.

Now, the fearless five of Maika Fonoti, Josh Walkup, Jake Walkup, Quentin McMackins and Anton Knox along with the rest of the Lions hopes to bring back the winning tradition on the basketball court, which Coach Rigsby has instilled since taking the job a few seasons ago.

"Coming out of football, I am sad it is ending, but I am glad basketball is starting," Fonoti said.

As for the district competition, this season, Rigsby made it a point that it is changing in terms of the type of talent, the Lions will face each night. Just recently, the district was dominated by guards, but now it has been the post players turn to shine. In order, for the Lions to get back in the upper echelon of the district, they believe the post players need to step up against the best the district and state must offer.

"Our post players must get in the weight room and get more strong and physical, while our guards need to knock down shots when the other team has guards that cannot do that.," Knox said.

Fonoti added, "We need to get tough in the paint, and not get soft."

George added, "We need to stay together and play as a team. Last year, we struggled doing that in some games, and it throws us off bad. If we play together as a team, we can do something special and upset a lot of teams in the district."

The Lions dealt with a lot of issues last season, which was part of the reason for the under .500 record. However, the players agree it is in the past, and they are moving forward to this season.

"We really put last season in the rear-view mirror," George said. "We are starting all over, and we are going to hit it hard in practice, and we are going to be competitive every single day. We know how last year was and we keep it in the back of our heads. We do not think about it often, and we focus on this coming year.

The tip-off to the 2016-17 season is Nov. 15 at the Coffee County Hall of Fame Classic in Manchester at 6 p.m. Preseason practice begins on Monday.