By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The two big men that Coach Heath Bralley expected to have returning won’t be there for this season. He says he has good, highly coachable players for this season who are working hard, but only three returnees who had a reasonable amount of playing time last year.
Bralley expects his unit to play a fast, pressing style to take advantage of its athleticism and depth. This style of play has been a characteristic of Fluco basketball teams for years. But, the Flucos have only two players in the 6-2 to 6-3 range and some opponents will have 6-7 and 6-8 competitors. Size is not everything in basketball, especially at the high school level, and some team without big men are quite successful. But, as John Wooten said height is the one thing you can’t teach.
Bralley’s three returnees are junior forward Sam Loving, Senior forward DeAndre McCloud and senior forward Mason Kirby. Loving is a three-sport competitor who Bralley describes as an outstanding athlete. He was an effective running back on the football team and he is an outstanding infielder for the Fluco baseball team. McCloud was a strong defensive back on the football team. Kirby is a strong muscular player who will be a factor inside. He and sophomore Noah Washington are the players in the 6-2 to 6-3 range.
Bralley notes that eight of his players were on the Fluco football team, so they are used to competitive pressure and come in with good conditioning. Bralley said that his starting line-up is still not decided as he needs to see who works best with whom. He has a young squad as there are only three seniors on the 14 player roster. The roster lists only three players as guards and describes 11 players as playing forecourt positions. The guards are juniors Tyrell Ntenda, Kemaan Massie and Carson Melton.
The season started on Dec. 3 with a trip to Liberty Christian Academy. On Dec. 6, the Flucos will be at home against Wilson Memorial. The following week on Dec. 13 they will host Goochland. On Dec. 17 they will take on a Jefferson District rival, playing Monticello High away. On Dec 19 and 20 they will play back to back games, playing Wilson away and Louisa County at home.
On Dec. 21 the Flucos will host the Bob Johnson Classic, which is named for a legendary Coach at Emory and Henry University. Coach Bralley played for Coach Johnson at Emory and Henry and said that a number of the visiting coaches also played at Emory and Henry. The tournament was originally played in Botetourt County but was moved to Fluvanna High this year.
