By Stephen Smoot
It’s not the ideal way to start a basketball campaign, but head coach Jeremy Bodkin’s Wildcats are used to finding ways to overcome adversity.
Many of the key components of the basketball team had to split their focus through November. The sensational success of the Wildcat football team in the postseason combined with the legal delays to the postseason’s start put winter sports in a bind.
“We only had five or six practices with everybody,” noted Bodkin, who added that the first few weeks of practice are key “to getting everyone on the same page” and also in “basketball shape.”
“We should be a good team . . . we’re not in shape yet,” explained Bodkin.
Football is a game that requires short bursts of energy punctuated by several seconds of inaction. The type of conditioning required for basketball focuses more on stamina, maintaining consistent effort for several minutes or more at a time. It takes time to adjust from one sport to the next.
Wildcat success starts with a deep, experienced, and athletic set of guards. “Josiah (Kimble) and Chase (Owens) are obviously a big part,” said Bodkin. Both players can hit from three-point range consistently and are difficult to defend on the floor. Kimble can elevate while Owens has the physical strength to play offense on the post against other guards and wrestle away rebounds.
Setting the table at point guard will be the lanky and quick Jaydon Hess who, Bodkin says “is going to be a key part. He’s very talented.” Hess gives opposing players fits on defense with his quickness and athleticism.
Caleb Armentrout will also provide significant minutes, bringing experience, savvy, and flexibility. Travis Owens, though a freshman, already understands the offense well and has good scoring ability both in outside shooting and off the dribble. Tony Vanmeter has significant quickness and excellent ball handing skills while Braylin Hull and Dalton Rohrbaugh have shown strong work ethic and will be called upon to deliver.
Along with the big scoring potential from the outside, expect a balanced attack from the Wildcats this season. Cashton Kisamore and Zykijah Wright are both post players in the classic mold. Unlike many forwards and centers in recent decades, Kisamore and Wright understand how to find their full potential down low. They both post up well, use moves to get to the basket, and aggressively pursue rebounds.
Wright, who battled injuries last season, has returned in full health.
Henry Warner, who played well on junior varsity last season, will come off the bench in relief of either. He has the athleticism to snag rebounds and score inside, but also ball handling and outside shooting skills as well.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who can score,” shared Bodkin, who speculated that “we should be a complete team.” He shared that the team played well together during the summer and showed its potential then. “We’ll have a lot of guys that you’ll have to stop.”
The December opening weeks offered no “tune up” game opportunities, but featured tough challenges against rivals such as East Hardy, Tucker County, and Tygarts Valley, as well as a visit from Virginia’s Luray Bulldogs. Closer to Christmas, the Wildcats will take an extended road trip to the mid Ohio Valley to face Parkersburg Catholic and Tyler Consolidated. These squads did not face the challenge of extended fall sports play and will be tough teams with which to tangle.
For the Wildcats, the road may feel like their natural habitat this season. Bodkin remarked that “we only have nine home games.”
Bodkin’s prediction for the season is that his team, once it gets settled in, will present a balanced attack that will be tough to beat.
He added that “these guys are going to be fun to watch. It’s going to be a fun season.”
