Red Bay Tiger head basketball coach Matt Noah goes over drills during basketball practice last Thursday. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.

By Keith Ledbetter

For the FCT

It may be six months before high school basketball season starts up, but already teams from across the county are starting their official summer practices and play dates.

Red Bay head basketball coach Matt Noah started summer practice for all his 2014-2015 players last Tuesday, May 27.

Noah said Red Bay will practice four days a week in preparation for several play dates that are scheduled during the month of June.

According to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) rules for summer, a school may participate in four days of practice competition per sport during the time school is out until the first fall practice date (Aug. 4th 2014).

“I’m very excited about the season,” Noah said.

“We lost a lot of seniors last year, but we have a lot of young kids coming back that have a lot of game experience.”

Red Bay’s first play date will be this Thursday at Tharptown against the Wildcats. Red Bay’s B-team will play Tharptown at 10:20, and the varsity will play the Wildcats at 11:20.

Phil Campbell and Russellville will kickoff the day with a B-game and a varsity game at 8:30 and 9:30 respectively.

Belgreen and Rogers High Schools are also scheduled to play in the afternoon.

Red Bay will host an all-day play date on June 12 with eight high schools from Alabama and Mississippi on the schedule.

The Tigers will open with a varsity game against Hackleburg at 9 a.m. Because two gyms will be used, both the varsity and B-teams will be able to play at the same time.

Along with Hackleburg, Rogers, Tharptown, Belmont, Haleyville, Hatton, and Winston County are scheduled to play at Red Bay.

The Tigers also have a play date with Belmont at the end of June.

“We go hard during the month of June,” Noah added.

“In July we let them come in and shoot on their own.

“Our area and our county are very competitive so you have to take advantage of the time we have during the summer to get in some practice.

“If you’re not in the gym, you’re losing.”