HBHS girls finish camps, boys continue to work

By Dusty Harper (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The Horseshoe Bend girls basketball team has completed its summer play dates and was impressive in the process.

The Lady Generals went 11-4 in their three separate game days in Gulf Shores and Sylacauga twice.

Head coach Mike Boyd has a veteran squad led by a solid group of juniors including Brittney Keel, Jessica Harden and Rachel Smothers among others. Also in that junior class is Jessica Williams. Williams, who was a big scorer as an eighth grader and a freshman, missed all of last year with a knee injury.

The Lady Generals have won more than 20 games the past two seasons, but have been knocked out early in the playoffs both years. Boyd is looking for this team to step up and make a run.

“Last year, we felt like we were better than Goshen, but we just didn’t step up and play when it counted,” Boyd said. “We’ve got Jessica back this year, and that’s a big help. She started out slow this summer, but she was getting close to her game by the last game. We came out and played terrible the first two games in Gulf Shores, but since then, we’ve shot better and looked pretty good.”

One big scorer HBHS does have to replace is Monica Allen, but Boyd said he already has a few candidates who could fill her role.

“Monica was a great shooter for us,” Boyd said. “But Carlie Vickers and Katie Martin have shown they might be able to fill her shoes.”

At the Beach Bash in Gulf Shores, HBHS won five of eight games. The Lady Generals beat Corinth (Miss.), Alcorn Central (Ark.), Northside, Alexandria and Foley. They lost to Buffalo Island (Ark.), Drew Central (Ark.) and Parklane (Miss.).

Boys still settling in

The young HBHS boys team continues to improve, though they have a long way to go, Boyd said.

“We are going to have to be really patient,” Boyd said. “With this many freshman, it’s a learning experience. They get out there in practice and look like they know what they’re doing, then in the game they try to do too much and get too excited.”

HBHS has really just one low post threat, Josh Martin, and several small guards. Boyd said that means his team will have to be even more efficient with its methodical offense.

“Josh helps out a lot with the size, but, again, being so short everyone has to be more patient,” he said. “We’ll have to take more time and really go through our offense. We have to work it until we get a good shot. They want to run up and down and shoot, but we have to go through our passes and wait until we get open.”

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