Bobcats style is fast, up-tempo pace

As he enters his second year as the head coach of the Phil Campbell boys basketball program, Shannon Benford will have plenty of options to work with as he tries to return the Bobcats to the regional tournament and beyond.

Three starters from last year’s team are returning this season, giving Benford a significant amount of experience to work with despite losing senior guard Hayden Wingo, who averaged 11 points per game for the Bobcats last season.

Leading the charge will be junior guard Austin Elliott, who last year averaged 15 points per game in addition to five boards per game and a 36% shooting clip from beyond the threepoint line. Also returning is senior guard Madden Welch, who Benford described as his “lockdown defender,” and Bailey Nix, another junior guard capable of providing a spark to the offense.

“Austin is going to be our main guy, and Madden is who we want when their best guy has the basketball,” Benford said. “Our strength is going to be in our guards and we’re going to be able to play fast and up-tempo most of the time.”

Unlike recent seasons, Benford said Phil Campbell possesses a solid amount of depth, which will allow for his starters to get more rest while throwing a different look at the opposition.

One thing his players will have to work on, Benford said, is taking advantage of when they’re at the free throw line and learning how to close out games when they have a lead.

“We shot very poorly from the free throw line last year,” Benford said. “We got beat in overtime in the area tournament and we just have to learn how to finish games. That’s going to be keys for us.”

After a third-place finish in Class 3A Area 15 in which they came within two points of making it to the area championship, Benford said stacking up against one of the toughest pools of competition will be a challenge, but one he looks forward to.

“Mars Hill, Sheffield and Colbert Heights, they’re all going to be tough as they always are,” Benford said. “We got to the county championship last year, too and getting back to both of those is our top goals.”