Basketball season overview: Phil Campbell

GIRLS

The Phil Campbell varsity girls basketball team will look a little different this year, but will play the same way that has helped them win games in the past.

The Bobcats lost a lot of height off of last year’s team, but their coach, Craig Thomas, says the same “aggressive style” will persist.

“We are going to be smaller, but we will still play up tempo and disciplined basketball on offense and get after teams on defense.”

Phil Campbell has one senior in Hannah Welborn. The rest are underclassmen Macy Hardy, Sidda Rogers, IsaBell Ashley, Mia Ambrosio, Ayla Stowe and Leela Baker.

The Bobcats’ biggest concern will be depth.

“We have some good players,” said Thomas. “They are going to have to be able to play a lot of minutes and stay out of foul trouble.”

The Bobcats have battled it out with Tharptown for supremacy the last couple of years. This year, it will be Belgreen who appears to be Phil Campbell’s biggest nemesis.

“We have some good rivalries in Franklin County,” said Thomas. “We can’t wait to battle it out this year to achieve our goals of a county and area championship.”

ROSTER

Ayla Stowe                   4

Hannah Welborn           10

Leela Baker                   11

Macy Hardy                  12

Bella Welch                  15

Natalie Pope                 20

Mia Ambrosio               24

Sidda Rogers                 30

Isabelle Ashley              32

BOYS

The Phil Campbell varsity boys basketball team will look a lot different this year. With the loss of nine seniors, there will be a lot of new faces for the Bobcats. Phil Campbell head coach Shane Clay hopes to combat the loss of experience with a team chemistry and work ethic.

“I think the thing that has impressed me so far about this team is their togetherness ,” said Clay. “Each player on our team has a role and responsibility, whether scoring or defending the basket. Each has embraced their role for the season.”

Senior Gage Baker is the only returning varsity player for the Bobcats, so he will have a big leadership role to play for his team.

“We lost 98 percent of our rebounds and 97 percent of our scoring,” said Clay. “But our toughness, coachability and resilience will play a role throughout the season. Each player is eager to learn and get better each day. They are always looking for ways to improve their skills and work hard each day.”

Clay said he wants to see this team build an identity around “toughness and grit.”

“We must be willing to set hard screens, dive for loose balls and take chargers,” said Clay. “Teams can have off-nights scoring, but playing hard and solid defense can happen every night. We must do the small things.”

ROSTER

Madden Welch                         0

Hagan Raper                             1

Hayden Wingo                          3

Austin Elliott                             4

Cale Faust                                 10

Eli Taylor                                  11

Logan Cooper                           12

Cody Quinn                               14

Logan Wright                            20

Gage Baker                               22