Basketball coaches on what their team needs for Christmas
Published 6:15 pm Thursday, December 24, 2015
Many area high school basketball teams have experienced their fair share of success this season, securing big wins in front of huge crowds of supporting fans.
As talented as some teams in the area are, no team is undefeated. Since no team is perfect, various coaches around the area have asked Santa Claus to bring at least one gift to their team this Christmas.
“A really big strong post player, about 6-foot-9,” said Dallas County boys’ head coach Willie Moore. “When you have a dominant post player who can block shots and rebound and run the floor, it creates double teams in the paint. Therefore, it gives a team with inexperienced guards an opportunity to get wide open shots.”
This season, the Dallas County Hornets have fallen victim to some teams they are used to beating. Dallas County has gotten strong play out of its guards, but Moore said a player with plenty of size and strength down low could really bolster a Hornets team that is thinner than usual.
Coincidentally, Selma boys’ head coach Woodie Jackson shared the same Christmas wish as Moore.
With key contributors Aderick Moore and Loveless Craig sidelined, Jackson is thin with bodies, especially when it comes to rim protectors.
Jackson hopes that somewhere up on Santa’s sleigh, there’s another 6-foot-9 or even 6-foot-10 player for his team. If Santa is all out of 6-foot-9 players, Jackson hopes Santa brings a healing potion that cures Moore and Craig of their injuries.
“More size,” Jackson said. “Even just having my two injured players back, Aderick Moore and Loveless Craig.”
Ellwood boys’ head coach Darrell Walker and Southside boys’ head coach Cedric Brown aren’t looking for a specific player, but rather an idea or statistic that will improve their respective teams.
The Southside Panthers have won some big games this season, but have come up short in others. The Panthers have downed Selma and Dallas County in their own building, but have fallen short to Keith twice.
Brown said he wants Santa to bring his team some consistency.
“In the month of January and going into the playoffs, we want to be consistent in what we’re doing,” Brown said.
Walker said his Ellwood Eagles have been turning the ball over too much. If Santa comes down his chimney this Christmas, Walker hopes Santa carries with him a lack of turnovers.
“The biggest thing that I would want Santa to bring to my team is a no turnover syndrome,” Walker said.
While some coaches are hoping Santa delivers them exactly what they want, other coaches — like Keith girls’ head coach Cecil Williams — has just what he needs.
Williams’ Keith Bears haven’t lost a game since the season-opener against Selma, and they’ve beaten the Saints two times since. The reigning class 1A champions don’t have any glaring holes on their roster, but Williams still said he’d like to skip all the way to the state championship if Santa provides him with the means to do so.
“If he could give us anything, he’d give us a ticket to play in Birmingham,” Williams said.
For one coach, Christmas came early. Meadowview boys’ head coach John Robert Morton was going to wish for more players, but he recently received one when longtime Meadowview student Garrett Grantham moved back to Selma to play for Meadowview.
“He came to practice this week and we’re real happy to have him back,” Morton said. “We needed an extra player and it’s been a big blessing in disguise.”
Morton said Grantham is a smart, athletic player who really understands basketball and will be a big help to a roster with few players.
This Christmas, Morton can be thankful he stayed off Santa’s naughty list.
“Santa Claus visited me early this year,” Morton said.