McAdams boys’ and girls’ basketball teams hit the court last Saturday for Jamboree games at different locations, the boys at Germantown High School and the girls at Kosciusko High School.
Boys
The Bulldogs were defeated by Germantown and Yazoo County in contests with two eight-minute halves that Coach Kenyon Ross used as a teaching tool.
“It wasn’t about wins and losses. It’s about teaching and showing the kids wins and losses don’t matter,” he said.
In his first year back at McAdams, the Bulldogs struggled against bigger schools in November and December. But when Region 6-1A play began in January, the team hit its stride, resulting in a region tournament victory and a trip to the state semifinals with playoff victories over Sacred Heart, Mount Olive and Leake County before a loss to state champion Biggersville.
“We have a lot of room for improvement. It's to be expected,” Ross said. “We have a good nucleus, but we just have to put everything together.”
The nucleus includes four returning starters, senior Kendarius McBeath, junior Cameron Fleming, sophomore Tyrick Davis and senior Jalen Greer. Ross expects junior Omari Barron-Hampton to be a major contributor. McBeath missed the playoffs last season with a leg injury but has recovered.
“Everyone has room for improvement. A lot of improvement. We need to get back to the basics,” Ross said. “It’s going to be how bad the kids want it. Do they want to get back to being the McAdams of old?”
He said the Bulldogs were able to sneak up on opponents last year, but that won’t happen this season. “Everybody knows about us. They expect McAdams to be like it was in the past. The kids have to be ready to play every day. To play McAdams type basketball.”
Girls
The Lady Bulldogs defeated J.Z. George 10-8, but lost to Pelahatchie 9-4 in games with two eight-minute halves and running time.
“They did great the first game (J.Z. George). They played under control,” said Coach Ashley Brown. “We did have a little issue with the younger kids keeping up with the man-to-man (defense).”
McAdams struggled a year ago in Brown’s first year as coach, missing out on the playoffs. She expects better things this year with the return of four starters – senior Jada Bayne, senior Shatikka Greer, junior Shawnessey Martin and junior Samaria Evans. Sophomore Ameri Gadson and freshmen Kenady Cross also figure prominently in the plans.
Brown plans to use a pressing man-to-man defense and a running offense.
“If we fast break a lot, scoring will come easier,” she said.
The key to success, she said, will be the ability to beat pressure defenses, a shortcoming last season. “Everybody we played pressed us because we had trouble getting the ball down the court,” the coach said.
Region 6-1A will not be quite the same this year. Nanih Waiya has moved up to 2A and West Lowndes, last’s year girls’ champion, is now in 4-1A. Other 6-1A teams are Ethel, French Camp, Leake County, Noxapater and Sebastopol.
The Lady Bulldog season begins November 2 at the Scott Central Classic. The Bulldogs tip off 11 days later at the Kosciusko Shootout. McAdams will host a holiday tournament Dec. 27 and 28 with 10 boys’ teams and 10 girls’ teams. Other teams include Kosciusko and Ethel.
McAdams 2021-22 Basketball Schedule
Oct. 23 Jamboree TBA
Nov. 2 Scott Central Classic(Girls Only)Away
Nov. 11 Scott Central (Girls Only) Home
Nov. 13 Kosciusko Shootout Away
Nov. 16 Philadelphia Classic(Girls Only) Away
Nov. 18 Pisgah Away
Nov. 23 Pelahatchie Home
Nov. 30 Louisville Home
Dec. 3 Kosciusko Away
Dec. 7 Leake Central Away
Dec. 10 Philadelphia Home
Dec. 14 Louisville Away
Dec. 17 Philadelphia Away
Dec. 20 Choctaw County Home
Dec. 21 Yazoo County Away
Dec. 27-28 McAdams Tournament Home
(Kosciusko, Yazoo County, McAdams, Leake Central, Ethel, Coffeeville(27th), Louisville(28th)
Dec. 30 Pisgah Home
Jan. 4 Leake County Away
Jan. 7 Noxapater Home
Jan. 11 Sebastopol Home
Jan. 14 French Camp Away
Jan. 18 Ethel Home
Jan. 21 Leake County Home
Jan. 22 Mid-Miss Challenge(Boys Only) Ackerman
Jan. 25 Noxapater Away
Jan. 28 Sebastopol Away
Feb. 1 French Camp(Sr. Night)Home
Feb. 4 Ethel Away
Feb. 7-11 6-1A District Tournament @ French Camp or Leake Co.
