Coming off a 49-38 win last Friday against Jenkins, the first of the season for Bradwell Institute’s boys basketball team, several players said they have recommitted themselves to adding to that total and trying to qualify for a playoff spot.
Against the Warriors, the Tigers (1-4 overall, 1-1 Region 3-AAAAA) seemed to benefit from a practice strategy put in place by coach Pete Woodard. Instead of sticking with the same lineup each game, Woodard picked his starters based on a team scrimmage the day before. The winning five earned the coveted starting stops.
"I’m an upbeat person," said senior point guard DeAndre Ross said. "I try to keep the team encouraged, but the team has to want it. Now at practice it looks like we want it because we are fighting for our starting position every day."
Woodard said the new challenge for his players has helped them in numerous ways.
"There is a lot more intensity," Woodard said. "They are playing with their heart, and there is a lot more hustle. There is more chemistry."
Sophomore guard Jordan Johnson said Woodard’s strategy is "helping the team."
"I don’t like to lose at all, and now my teammates have the same confidence," Johnson said. "We don’t want to get too cocky after that first victory, but we are going to continue with the same game plan we had against Jenkins andand try to keep winning."
The Tigers are not scheduled to play again until Dec. 26 in the Macon County High School Christmas Tournament in Montezuma. Their first game is 12:30 p.m. Dec. 26 against Westside Macon.
The winner will play the next day at 8 p.m. The loser will play at 2 p.m. The tournament will wrap up Dec. 29.
"The plan is to go down there and come back with the trophy," Woodard said. "All I ask them to do is go out there and give me 100 percent. If they do that, trophy or no trophy we will still be winners."