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<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PINEVILLE \u2014 After a 26-7 campaign that included a strong 12-4 record against 13th Region competition, the Bell County Bobcats enter the new season with high expectations\u2014and plenty of reasons to feel confident. With several seasoned starters returning and a roster built around size, versatility, and toughness, head coach Brad Sizemore believes this group is equipped to take another major step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are very excited about our team for this upcoming season,\u201d Sizemore said. \u201cWe think we have several returning talented players, with a lot of big game experience under their belt and we hope this is going to be very beneficial for our guys at the end of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strong Summer Sets the Tone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Few teams statewide matched Bell County\u2019s summer workload. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bobcats participated in two team camps, competed in the NCAA event in Lexington, and played roughly 35 games\u2014many against elite opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had a great Summer, we played around 35 games, participated in two team camps and the NCAA event in Lexington,\u201d Sizemore said. \u201cWe were able to competed with some of the top teams in the state and hopefully was a preview of what these guys will be able to do at that level this season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Experienced Starters Return<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bell County brings back four veteran starters\u2014three of whom will be entering their fourth season in the starting lineup\u2014along with a highly talented freshman who will round out the first five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cayden Huff \u2013 6\u20192 Senior<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe will be a 4 year starter for us. He is our glue guy. Cayden is always willing to do the dirty work to help our team. He sets great screens, battles on the boards and is a great athlete who can get up and down the floor. He has also shown the ability to score the ball, driving to the rim.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jaxon Thomas \u2013 5\u20198 Junior<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis will be his 3rd year in a row being a starter, he is a great shooter and one of the best defensive players we have on our team. He has had a great offseason and we look for him to become a bigger scoring threat this season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ethan Buell \u2013 6\u20195 Junior<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis will be his 4th year starting for us. He has gotten a lot stronger and more athletic this offseason. He continues to improve his overall ability to score the ball, we think we will be able to use Ethan a lot of ways. He is a great shooter, someone who can attack the rim and go into the post. We look for him to have a big year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blake Burnett \u2013 6\u20192 Senior<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis will be his 4th year starting, we think Blake will have a great senior year. He has the ability to score the ball in a variety of ways. He has continued to get stronger this year and we will think it\u2019s going to make it even tougher for teams to keep him out of the lane. He worked a lot on his outside shot and we look for him to become a serious threat from the outside this season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Braxton Ferguson \u2013 6\u20192 Freshman<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe will be our 5th starter this season. He has a chance to be a special player and we look for him to have a breakout year on the varsity level, he has the ability to get to the rim, shoot the ball from the outside and is a very physical player on both sides of the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Added Depth and New Contributors<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Behind the starting unit, the Bobcats will rely on a rotation that Sizemore believes could go eight deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have a lot of returning experience that we will mix in with some talented new players,\u201d he said. \u201cWe think we have 8 kids who could be in our varsity rotation. We have added size (Gavin Barton), a few more ball handlers (Kaleb Cornett) and another great young defensive player in (Dalton Black).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key Subs<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Gavin Barton \u2013 6\u20197 Junior, Post<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Kaleb Cornett \u2013 6\u20192 Sophomore, Combo Guard<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Dalton Black \u2013 5\u201910 Sophomore, Guard<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sizemore noted that Barton, who transferred in, has the potential to be a major difference-maker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGavin Barton\u2014transfer from Cumberland Gap, TN. Big strong, super athletic post player, we think can really help us on the boards and give us a post presence. He is still getting accustomed to our system but we think he has a lot of potential and could really help us down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Team Strengths<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bell County will look the part of a contender physically and stylistically. The Bobcats enter the year with size, athleticism, versatility, and battle-tested veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are going to be strong, with a lot of size across the board, our guys are experienced and tough,\u201d Sizemore said. \u201cWe think we will have multiple guys who are going to be able to attack the rim and space out make 3\u2019s. We expect our defense and rebounding to be a better from the standpoint we are another year older and stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Areas of Improvement<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the optimism, Sizemore said there are clear areas the team must refine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have to continue to become a better overall rebounding team,\u201d he noted. \u201cWe have to continue to improve our ball handling and be able to take care of the ball against other teams pressure. We will have a handful of new guys that will have an adjustment period to the speed of the varsity games, but we fully expect that to not be an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keys to Success<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKeys to our team is to continue to stay hungry, make improvements weekly throughout the year, we need to be playing our best basketball when the post season rolls around, and stay a close knit unit on and off the court,\u201d Sizemore said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the State\u2019s Toughest Schedules<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sizemore didn\u2019t shy away from challenging his team\u2014calling this winter\u2019s slate the most difficult he has ever assembled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis could be the hardest schedule I have ever put together,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are playing several preseason #1 teams from various regions, top 20 teams in the state and going to a loaded holiday tournament in Kingsport, TN. We think this schedule is going to prepare us to make a deep post season run and we think our guys are ready to take on this challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
District and Region Outlook<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bell County expects to contend for a district crown, but Sizemore knows the 52nd District will be competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe think we have a good shot at winning the district and that is one of our major goals for this years team,\u201d he said. \u201cWith that being said, Harlan Co will be the team to beat until someone can prove they can take them down when it counts. Harlan City will be much improved with so many younger returning players. Middlesboro has a new coach with a lot of returning kids and we know that will always be a competitive rival game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge, he added, is staying sharp every night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n