Season preview: Cass basketball strives to continue winning ways
The Cass girls and boys varsity basketball teams began their 2018-19 slates Tuesday night at home with games against visiting Cumberland Christian Academy.
The Lady Colonels came away with an opening night win while the Colonels dropped new head coach Sean Glaze’s opener.
The Cass girls will look to build on last season’s 15-11 record that saw the Lady Colonels finish 8-8 in Region 7-AAAAA. Cass failed to make the state playoffs, falling to Kell in a game that decided a state qualifier.
In addition to Tuesday night’s opponent in 2018-19, the Lady Colonels will face non-region opponents Clarkston, Fannin County, Chapel Hill, and Chattahoochee. Cass will also play three opponents, including Washington, in the Adairsville Christmas Classic December 27-29.
The Cass boys finished 17-12 one year ago and earned a state playoff berth after going 9-7 in Region 7-AAAAA. Head coach David Brock has departed to take the head coaching job at Dalton High School.
The Colonels have another non-region game scheduled against Fannin County and Cass will play in two holiday tournaments. They play Cleveland (TN) in the opening round of the Dalton Thanksgiving Tournament November 19-21 and will play a pair of games December 21-22 in the Rockmart Christmas Tournament.
Both the Lady Colonels and Colonels again will compete in Region 7-AAAAA that includes home-and-home matchups against Kell, Paulding County, East Paulding, Rome, Carrollton, Woodland, Villa Rica, and Hiram.
Cass High School Lady Colonels
Head Coach: Burt Jackson
Assistant: Taylor Weeks
Returning Starters: Sharia Wade, Amber Brittian, Alexis Ware, and Payton Stoddard
Potential Starters and Expected Contributors: Londaisha Smith, Claire Davis, Ariana Hames, Brianna Stephenson, and Taryn Callahan
Other Varsity Players:
Brooklyn Whittington, Sylvia Wade, Abby Stoddard
Coach Jackson on 2018-19 expectations:
“We expect to compete for the region championship and qualify for the state tournament.”
Cass High School Colonels
Head Coach: Sean Glaze
Assistants: Stephen Page, Drew McKaig, and Jonathan Wallace
Returning Starter(s):
Justice Hayes
New potential starters and top expected contributors:
Jordan Ford, Ethan Carter, and C.J. Pipkin
Remainder of varsity roster: Zaylan Chaney, Emanuel Green, Andrew Glaze, Braxton Benham, Jaylon Johnson, Darius Ward, Jaquan Heard, JaQuez Fountain
Coach Glaze’s comments on the 2018-19 season:
“The six seniors who graduated from last year’s state tournament team took about 90 percent of the team scoring with them. The varsity roster is expected to include five upperclassmen and the remainder will be freshmen and sophomores. That said, I am pleased with the growth and commitment our guys have shown in the preseason. Watching our guys continue to grow into leadership roles will take some time, and our staff is excited to see how the work our athletes have put in will translate into production on the court in what is a very competitive region.”
