Clarke Central High School junior Jaiquez Smith (left) plays in the varsity basketball game against Cedar Shoals High School Jan. 20, 2018. Last season, the team made it to the state championship for the first time in CCHS history. “We didn’t actually believe (we were going to the state championship) until it started happening. It was a blessing, and it was a fun experience,” Smith said. Photo by Krista Shumaker
The Clarke Central High School boys varsity basketball team had eight seniors graduate from the program after the 2017-18 school year and is working on rebuilding the team.
Following the 2017-18 school year, the Clarke Central High School varsity basketball team graduated eight seniors from the program. Going into the 2018-19 basketball season, the CCHS varsity basketball coaches are looking to younger players to lead the team.
CCHS head varsity basketball4 coach Andre McIntyre believes the team is lacking a sense of leadership.
“We need someone to hold his teammates and himself accountable. We need players to lead instead of always a coach pushing them, so we try to get a player, and usually one of them step up and become the leader of the team,” McIntyre said. “We just need someone to step up because it’s such a new team.”
Last season, the CCHS varsity basketball team made it to the state championship for the first time in the program’s history. CCHS varsity basketball player Jaiquez Smith was one of the members of the 2017-18 varsity team that made it to the state championships last season.
“(Making the state championship was) different and shocking. We knew we were good, but we didn’t expect to go that far,” Smith said. “I know the team we had last year, they had been playin’ with each other since ninth grade, and the most important thing they said to win, was the chemistry.”
Smith believes he can fill a leadership role within the team and that with hard work, the team can return to the state championships.
“A lot of people have to step up. I feel like me, with the experience, I have to step up and let them know we have to compete, and that this is not JV anymore, like this is serious. (My teammates) have to come out to practice and have to battle and go at it durin’ practice and then in the game, compete even harder to win,” Smith said. “(It’s going to be) bumpy and difficult, but I believe we can as far as we did last year.”
