Cougar Basketball Boys Have Depth

Most basketball coaches will tell you depth is a key factor when it comes to being successful.
For Piedmont Academy boys basketball coach Chip Champion, depth is something he will have the benefit of this season.

With 16 players on the 2003-04 roster, depth will be a strength rather than a weakness for Champion¹s Cougars this winter.

“It is a night and day difference from last year,” Champion said. “We have some raw talent that we need to refine, but overall we are going to be in good shape.”
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Six seniors will lead the Piedmont team including Taylor Marsh, Ben Worthen, Doug Raynor, Andrew Fisher, Sam McMichael and Josh Daniel. All six with the exception of Daniel played last season. Marsh was an All-Region performer.

Matt Allen is the lone junior on this year’s squad. Champion said Allen, although in his first season in the program, should contribute quality minutes this year.

Piedmont will not have any sophomore players on the varsity roster. Freshmen Lance Richard-son, Micah Tyler, Zac Hauther, Josh Phillips, Whit Morgan and Brandon Landreau will be looked upon to contribute, as will eighth graders Christopher Jackson, Taylor Jackson and Christopher Hornibrook.

“The eighth grade players will also see time on the junior varsity, but any minutes we can get them on varsity will just be a bonus,” Champion said.

The Piedmont Academy boys open the 2003-04 season Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Flint River in Wood-bury.
“It’s not an ideal thing to begin your schedule with a region rival on the road,” Champion said.

“However, that’s how the schedule fell this year. I believe we are going to surprise some people in the region this season.

The Piedmont coach said 13 of the 15 All-Region players from last season were seniors. One of the two returning All-Region performers is Piedmont’s Marsh.

“Last year we struggled without depth,” Champion said.

“However, we had a year of learning and growing which helped our returning players tremendously. We’ve had several practices now with everyone. Hopefully, when the heart of our schedule rolls around, we will be OK. We have a good mix of older and younger players. Everyone on our roster can contribute and give us solid minutes.”

While Champion admits it will be tough to win the region, the second-year coach also knows the Cougars have a chance to compete. Piedmont has not won a region title since 1993.

“With our depth we should be able to wear some people down,” Champion said.

“³That’s a big advantage to have in Class AA.”