MOULTRIE — Colquitt County boys basketball fans who attend tonight’s season-opener against Worth County in the Gladys Espy Memorial Gymnasium may remember starters Eugene Woods and Chantting Stevenson from last year’s team.
Woods had a few starts last season. Stevenson got considerable playing time off the bench.
But the rest of the Packers who will go out against the Rams will be getting their first significant playing time.
Tonight’s card features the Colquitt County and Worth County boys B-teams squaring off at 4 p.m.
The Colquitt County varsity girls, who are 1-2 after playing in last week’s Charles Cooper Memorial Tip-off Tournament, will meet the Lady Rams at 6 p.m.
The game will be the first at the Espy Gymnasium for Lady Packers coach Rondesha Williams, who took over the program this year after Joe Parker left for South Effingham.
The varsity Packers, trying to improve on last year’s 11-16 record, will meet the Rams at 7:30 p.m.
The Packers lost nine seniors from the 2006-2007 team, including seven of their top players.
“We’re not as talented as we were last year,” Packers third-year coach Kirven Davis said. “It’s like we are starting over.
“But we’ll be better defensively.”
The Packers are expected to start Woods, Stevenson, senior Rashad Edmonds, junior Dominique Hadley and sophomore Nathaniel Hill.
The rest of the roster includes Brian Berl, Amel Magwood, Dominique Presley, James Taylor, Matt Cannon and Eric Key.
Davis said his team had a strong summer, but in their scrimmage against Cairo on Nov. 13, the Packers fell 74-41.
“I wasn’t disappointed in how we played against Cairo,” Davis said. “We didn’t have Berl and Stevenson, so that’s 20 points we were missing right there.
“We played well the first half, but in the second half, our lack of depth showed.
Davis said Worth County, coached by former Packer Andy Harden, lost three players from last year’s team, but has “seven or eight guys who had significant playing time. They’ll be experienced. They’ll be one of strongest teams in AAA this year. It’ll be good to get a test early.
“And it’s turning into a rivalry, with Coach Harden being from here.”
Colquitt County will be back in action on Friday when Monroe visits.
The boys game will be especially meaningful for Davis.
He will be going head-to-head with his younger brother Marquis, who has taken over as the head coach of the Tornadoes this season.
Marquis had been assistant at Dougherty, where both he and Kirven played high school ball.
“It’s been sort of the talk of the town,” Kirven said, mentioning that the two brothers cut hair in an Albany shop on Saturdays and there is likely to be a big crowd from Dougherty County on hand Friday night.
Colquitt County and Worth County will meet again on Saturday in Sylvester.
PACKERS NOTES: Season passes to all Colquitt County home basketball dates will be on sale tonight and Friday night, when the Packers and Lady Packers play host to Monroe.
The cost of the season pass is $30. Not only will it give admission to all nine regularly schedule game dates, but also will enable the holder to attend all three days of the Packer Roundball Classic on Dec. 27-29.
Admission to home games is $5. Admission to the Roundball Classic is $8.
Local Sports
Basketball teams play home openers tonight
- Local Sports
-
-
Conference champions
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls basketball team celebrates its South Georgia Athletic Conference championship. The team includes, front, from left, coach Sheila Williams, Za'Nautica Downs, Akia Sutton, Ty'Asia McNeal, Shy Seay; and back, Sydnee Dalton, Shay Stanfill, Kiarra Lovett, Abiyah Spencer, Coach Jon Scroggins, Angel Kinchen, Chyna Calhoun, Michaela Bennefield, Istajhe Johnson, Ashuntee Stewart and Ja'nysia Brown. Not shown, Coach Tamika Seay and Emily Dozier.
-
Lady Pack clinches top seed for region tournament
Makeba Ponder’s free throw with 6 seconds remaining gave the Colquitt County girls a 55-48 victory over Lowndes on Tuesday on the William Bryant Court at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium and ensured the Lady Packers would have the top seed in next week’s Region 1-AAAAA tournament at Tift County.
-
Rifle team defeats Worth County
The Colquitt County High rifle team remains unbeaten after taking a 1,098-1,082 victory over Worth County on Tuesday in Sylvester.
-
Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
-
Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
-
Level 3 gymnasts first, Level 4 team second in Thomasville
The Moultrie YMCA MGs headed to Thomasville on January 28 to continue their meet season in the Rose City gymnastics invitational and the Level 3’s took first place and the Level 4’s placed second.
-
Register wins region wrestling championship
Travis Register will take an unbeaten record into next weekend’s state sectional after going 2-0 and winning the 220-pound weight class at Saturday’s Region 1-AAAAA wrestling tournament at Lowndes.
-
Lady Packers hold off Tift County
The Colquitt County girls basketball team held off a determined Tift County second-half rally on Saturday on the William Bryant Court at the Espy Gymnasium to get a 59-48 Region 1-AAAAA victory.
-
Talking it over
The defending Region 1-AAAAA champion Colquitt County High baseball team held an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at Ike Aultman Field at Packer Park. The Packers are gearing up for their Feb. 21 season-opener against Lawton Chiles of Tallahassee at Packer Park. Packers assistant coach Jake Mobley talks with sophomore pitcher, and little brother, Gabe Mobley during Saturday’s scrimmage.
-
Seventh-grade girls win conference championship
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls’ basketball team claimed the conference championship Saturday, upsetting previously undefeated Coffee, 20-19.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
