Weather

Local News

   ___________
 

___________
 
AD RATES
___________
 

National News

McKenzie High School hosted a team camp at MHS, McKenzie Middle School and Bethel College, featuring the Rebels and 14 other teams.

"I thought it was a good week and the overall camp went well," said McKenzie boys' coach Larry Joe Smith. "Sometimes, when you have that many teams, you worry if someone isn't going to show up because that can throw the whole schedule off."

But it went off without a hitch at three different facilities.

"The middle school has a new floor and bleachers and we were able to use that and Bethel has been awful good to us," said Smith. "We went from 4 to 10:30 every night, so it was a good week."

Other teams in the event included Bradford, Gleason, Trinity, Huntingdon, Milan, Dresden, Stewart County, Camden, Bruceton, Henry County, Waverly, Houston County, Adamsville and Crockett County.

As for the Rebels, Smith was pleased by what he saw.

"I saw substantial improvement in our kids," he said. "We are quicker and we are using an eight-man rotation, so I'm looking for my younger kids to really step up."

The Rebels only lost one senior last year, Ryan Drewry, so the nucleus returns.

"I thought we made a little progress," Smith said. "I thought we were better at sharing the basketball and spreading it around. The guards did a better job of finding open people and our over all speed is better."

But in June, there's always room for improvement.

"We have to do a better job at getting the ball inside and we have to shoot free throws better," Smith said. "Right now, at this point, I'm not too worried about free throws because we're just trying to see who can play."

The Rebels were 4-4 in camp play and also took part in four B-team games.

"And we already have had two scrimmage days with Obion, Bradford and JCS," said Smith. "On the 17th, we're going up to Smithland, Ky. to scrimmage, so we'll get another day up there."
The coach says things are really looking up this summer.

"We played hard and we played pretty well," he said. "We were competitive with the better teams up here."

Coach Stigall comes to Atwood from Crockett County where he served as the assistant high school and head freshman basketball coach last year while teaching physical education and math. He and his wife Beth will both be teaching at West Carroll. Coach Stigall will be teaching physical education and health and possibly math. His wife Beth will be teaching seventh grade math.

Coach Stigall was employed just last week and therefore got a relatively late start in planning camps, etc. for the high school team. However, he has two camps scheduled for their participation including one at Martin Westview from June 20-21 and at Union University July 8-11. In the meantime, the boys are practicing daily. Second year coach Danny Giles will continue as the junior high War Eagle coach.

Coach Hayner will be returning to West Carroll after coaching assignments at Trenton (1999-2000), Big Sandy (2000-2002) and Jackson Middle School (2002-2003). He coached the West Carroll junior high squads from 1997-1999. Coach Hayner graduated from Michigan State and played both baseball and football while in college. He also received a degree at Florida State and received his Masters from Trevecca. He will teach social studies while coaching both the junior and senior high squads. His wife, Shannon, has been a faculty member with West Carroll since 1997 and teaches at the elementary school in Trezevant.

Coach Hayner has plans to take his high school girls to a two-day camp at Obion County in July and tentatively plans on a second camp at Jackson-Central Merry which will also be in July. Both squads practice daily and presently there are 15 high school girls practicing for a spot on this year’s team and 16 junior high girls.

• Diamonds 16-year team wins 18-under tournament
• West Tennessee Lady Stars AAU basketball team competes

Advertisements