After a successful season as area champs and two-time playoff winners, the boys varsity basketball team plans to turn up the heat in their Sweet Sixteen matchup against Mountain Brook Feb. 19.
Head coach Elijah Garrison is already riding the success of achieving the team’s second area championship in his two-year tenure. He emphasizes a deliberate approach to practice and recovery as the team steps into the tournament.
“We’re up [in the weight room] right now, just taking care of our bodies to keep players fresh,” Garrison said.
The staff have also prioritized shortening practices and monitoring workload to minimize “wear and tear”.
Roster management has been a recurring challenge for the team this season. A flu outbreak in December and overlapping commitments with a successful football season briefly disrupted the games, but Garrison credits the player’s adaptability.
Returning multi-sport athletes helped the team “redefine themselves and try to figure out how to play as a whole,” Garrison said.
Nevertheless, the team has had a great season, with senior Kaleb Carson becoming the fastest student to get 1000 career points and join the 1000-point club in Homewood history.
Senior and guard for the Homewood Patriots, David Walden, emphasized a focus on fundamentals for preparation.
“Late-season teams are really good at the basics,” Waldon explained.
Waldon notes that Homewood practices basic drills daily and highlights the importance of defensive pressure, particularly a press designed to speed opposing guards and force turnovers. The Patriots have proved their skill and athleticism the past two playoff games with success rooted in fast paced transition.
A late season win against Hoover proved the team’s ability to win the championship. The Patriots closed a 20 point deficit in the second half, and still won the game by nine points. This increase highlights the team’s importance of three point shooting. When the team is shooting well, not many teams can compete, but when the team is struggling behind the three point line success becomes difficult.
In a recent win against Shades Valley in the state tournament, the favored Patriots only won by two points as a result of poor three-point shooting.
Going into another tournament game against Mountain Brook, there is still room for improvement.
“We are still learning how to play together to our strengths,” Walden said.
Walden pointed to individual strengths the coaching staff is trying to maximize, “getting Kaleb into position for drives and back-cuts, and creating looks for Jace on the three point line.”
The team plays Mountain Brook at Jacksonville State University. Tickets are on Gofan.
