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PrintDAVID HUNTER
The Cannon Courier
It is finally here, the start of the new Cannon County Middle Grade basketball teams as they opened their first ever season last week in Winchester against Franklin County North. After a lot of debate within the county about the process of creating this team, the Junior Lions and Junior Lionettes rosters was finalized on Nov. 23. All the players and coaches are excited about starting this new journey.
"We are really excited since this is the first ever CCMG team," Woodbury Grammar student-athlete Zettie Elrod said.
"We are glad to play together this year, and be a part of the first middle grade team and not go against each other," Westside student-athlete Gus Davenport said.
"I think we are pretty excited, because it is a lot different than playing with our own teams, because on our own teams we were by ourselves. Here we got each other." Auburn student athlete Branden Reed said.
Both teams have a collection of players from all six area grammar schools, and each head coach Junior Lions Jared Nave and Junior Lionettes Ashley Cantrell admitted there was a lot of great talented players who tried out, but they could not keep them all.
"We just had so many good players try out this year, and honestly it was a hard process," Cantrell said. "They all are very talented, and I look forward to having these this year. I hope the ones that tried out and did not make it try out next year, and I look forward having them too. They are all very, very talented girls.
Since the CCMG teams were formed last week, they have been hard at work trying to fit all the pieces together trying to work for the same goal. Of course, this is nothing new here as all the other local Middle Grade team pull athletes from all six schools, and they come together as one squad. However, this is brand new for basketball since these players are used to playing against each other for their respective schools, so their roles will be different than what they are used to during the regular season.
"The greatest thing about it is when you see great teams, you got to talk to the kids," Nave said. "I think honesty is the best route to go, and when you are honest with them, and tell them this will be your role. When they figure out what their role is on the team. For example, when they jump up and down on the bench after a teammate got an and one. That is just as important as the guy who made the and one. All 12 guys are one, and that will be a little adjustment for them, because they are so used to being stars. The first will be a little rocky, but I am more about the team. It does not matter if you are better than the other guy, if he is having a good game or his attitude is better, I want them to learn life lessons, and not necessary the wins or losses."
The Junior Lionettes have six players from the most dominate school recently, Woodland, to go along with three players from this year's county runner-up Woodbury Grammar, and an impressive inside, outside duo from Auburn.
While the Junior Lions have representation from all six schools, including a trio from the county champion Woodland, a sharpshooter and post presence from the previous five-year titlists, Westside, a talented duo from WGS and Short Mountain, and an athletic player from Auburn and Eastside.
So far, Cantrell and Nave has been pleased with the way the players have bonded together as one team, especially since some of them have been competing on other CCMG teams with each other. Part of the reason, the CCMG basketball teams were created was to give these players a chance to get used to competing preparing them for high school basketball.
"That is what we are doing is representing the county," Cantrell said. "I think these girls understand that, and I think they are going to enjoy playing different people from out of county. I really think that is going to help them coming in as freshman to know how everybody works. I think it will be good for next year's elementary school season and their high school."
As for the players, they are excited about getting the chance to play on the same team as some of their friends off the court, and try to dominate the Volunteer state.
"I think all of us have become stronger players than what we used to be as a team together," Woodland student Shelby Smithson said.
"It has been going pretty good," Eastside student athlete Eli Cantrell said. "We have been practicing a lot about chemistry and passing the ball and getting used to each other on how to play."
Since this is the first year of the program, the goals for both teams are both short and long term as they look to the future not only at this level but beyond middle grade.
"We just want to improve every day, and become more as a team," Nave said. "When you trust one another, and get along then you start seeing the wins. We got to get them on a big floor and implement our system. I just want to see our kids compete and have fun."
"We are hoping to work together as a team, and we pull off some wins this season," Auburn female student-athlete Katelyn Duggin said.
"We want to play smart, work hard, and play as a team," WGS student-athlete Lavell Rogers said.
Overall the players and coaches are just excited about making county history this season with this new adventure.
"It is very neat, especially since the three coaches are alumni players from CCHS," Cantrell said. "It is great to come back and be able to be a part of something with this being the first year of the CCMG team. It is a good feeling, and these girls are excited."
Cannon County Middle Grade Basketball Rosters
Junior Lions
Zachary Basham- Woodland
Brady Bryson-
Woodland
Kyler Bryson-
Short Mountain
Eli Cantrell-
Eastside
Gus Davenport-
Westside
Dalton Hale-
Woodland
Eddie Hill-
Short Mountain
Branden Reed-
Auburn
Lavell Rogers-
Woodbury Grammar
Jordan Timmons-
Short Mountain
Connor Tucker-
Woodbury Grammar
James Vassar-
Westside
Junior Lionettes
Kaylee Armstrong- Woodland
Rudy DeArmond- Woodbury Grammar
Katelyn Duggin-
Auburn
Zettie Elrod-
Woodbury Grammar
Jalin Fann-
Woodland
Cassie George-
Woodland
Lauren Knox-
Woodbury Grammar
Bradi Mason-
Woodland
Shelby Parker-
Auburn
Maleah Sissom-
Woodland
Shelby Smithson- Woodland
