‘Cane Basketball Begins Friday
The 2014-2015 Monticello High School Hurricane basketball season will officially begin tomorrow, Nov. 21 as the varsity squads travel to Milledgeville to face G.M.C.
The Lady Canes, led by new head coach Tamika Thomas, is a young squad of 14. Two seniors, sisters Maya and Morgan Stokes, will assert their upperclassmen leadership and try to steer the team toward success this season. Rounding out the squad are four juniors, Sheridan Tripp, Terisha Adams, Corissa Hawkins, and Natarsha Lavaughn; two sophomores, Aiesha Whidby and Jameecia Thurman; and six freshmen, Nia Davis, Alyssa Wilson, Jessi Caron, Naudia Hardwick, Deidriau Jackson, and Annia Thompkins.
Being a young squad, mostly composed of freshmen, the school’s basketball program will not field a junior varsity squad this season as many underclassman will be seeing varsity action.
‘I know they [the girls] are nervous and excited about their first game,” said Lady Cane Coach Thomas.
She also admitted to experiencing feelings of eagerness, nervousness, and excitement all combined into one as the first game of the season approaches.
Tamika Thomas will be assisted this season by former Lady Cane athlete Traci Glawson and John Hopper.
Unlike their female counterparts, the varsity Canes squad touts a bevy of upperclassmen and a sole freshman. The team includes four seniors, Quinton Standifer, Jakari Middlebrooks, Avery Davis, Dewaune Benton; four juniors, Jordan Stone, De’Miria Glover, Desmond Nash, Austin Blankenship; two sophomores, C.J. Adams, Shakur Sands; and freshman Ashton Bonner.
Canes head coach William “B.J.” Thomas said that he had two main requirements of his squad on Friday—to play hard and exhibit better man-to-man defense than they did last Tuesday when the Clarkston squad came to town for a preseason scrimmage. Despite winning the friendly competition last week, Coach Thomas said improvement is key.
“With it being the first game it won’t be perfect. I just want us to better than last Tuesday.”
B.J. Thomas will be assisted by JCHS graduate Steven Hopper.
The varsity squads are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.
The boys’ will have a junior varsity squad this season, led by John Hopper and assisted by Kenny Moore.
The middle school squads will once again be led by Rufus Whitlock and Shakira Middlebrooks.