Basketball is family affair for Greens

HANCEVILLE — Players and coaches often like to throw out the cliché teams are families. But for Belgreen, it tends to be more than hyperbole. It’s a bit of the family business.

Such is the case when Chad Green is the head coach, his oldest daughter, Dacota, is a part-time assistant and his youngest daughter, Lily, is a guard.

“Oh, it’s a lot of fun,” Chad said with a grin after Tuesday’s 31-20 win over Sulligent in the Class 2A Northwest Regional semifinals.

“Lily, my youngest daughter, she’s in 10th grade with Randi (Terry), and she’s out there with us. Dacota, she doesn’t get to be with us all the time because she plays flag football at (Northwest) Shoals, but she’s been a big help with the younger girls.”

Dacota certainly has some experience to pass on having grown up around the program.

She started off her Belgreen tenure as a ball girl before working her way to varsity mainstay. She finished her career — a loss to Decatur Heritage in the regional semifinals last season — with 1,830 points.

And while admitting it’s difficult to not run onto the court to play, Dacota figured the next best thing would be to help. She knows the coach, and the players, too. It was an easy decision.

“I love the atmosphere with girls,” said Dacota, who wants to be a head coach in the future. (Perhaps her dad’s job one day.) “I love the time with my dad and my sister. And I just love basketball and this community.”

And help is always appreciated.

Dacota works mainly with the post players.

Yes, the Bulldogs were outrebounded 33-24 by Sulligent, but they outscored the Blue Devils in the paint 22-8. Belgreen also forced 32 turnovers.

All of it helped Belgreen hold its third opponent of the season to 20 points or less. It was the Bulldogs’ best scoring defense in a regional, besting the 34 points they surrendered to Meek two seasons ago.

But perhaps the biggest beneficiary of Dacota’s presence has been senior point guard Makenna Fisher.

“She’s so supportive of Makenna, who took on a new role for us this year,” Chad said. “She’s really talked her up.”

Fisher finished with nine points and five steals on Tuesday. Terry led Belgreen with 10 points.

Isabella Bozeman and Jessica Bobo paced Sulligent (20-8) with six points each.

Lily Green, coach Chad Green’s daughter and Dacota Green’s sister, is a sophomore guard for Belgreen.

“She encourages us,” Fisher said. “She’s one of our biggest fans.”

But that doesn’t mean Dacota’s support doesn’t come without expectations. Who might be tougher — dad or daughter — might be determined by the day or game.

“She’s really tough on us,” Terry said with a smile. “Last year, she didn’t get to make it (to Birmingham), so she wants us to.”

Belgreen (24-9) got its chance to do so on Monday against Cold Springs (2110). It was just the seventh regional final appearance for Belgreen as a program and the second time in three years. The last time the Bulldogs reached the state semifinals was 2003.

The Greens would like to be part of that again, and with this group of players, too.

“It’s so rewarding seeing them move on in the playoffs,” Dacota said. “And they’re not satisfied. They want to go even further.”