The Crowleys Ridge Academy Falcons finished last season 17-14 and earned a trip to the 1A-2 Regional Tournament . This year , with all five starters returning , head coach Mark Gramling and his Falcons are hoping for even more wins and to take that next step into the state tournament . Seniors Talon McMillon and Hayden Austin lead an experienced group of Falcons . McMillon ( 6 ’ 4 ) is the team ’ s best pure shooter but can also use his length inside . He is the team ' s returning leader in points and rebounds and has been selected as a captain because the team responds well to his leadership . Austin plays inside where he led the team in blocks a year ago . He has a good post game , and Coach Gramling says they are expecting a big year from him . Juniors Doss Clayton , Teddy Joe Spillman , and Caden Prather round out the returning five . Clayton ( 6 ’ 3 ) is a point guard with good handles . He is a good shooter that can finish at the rim as well . Coach Gramling says Clayton is one the hardest workers he has ever coached . Spillman is the best leaper on the team and a good rebounder . His positive attitude is contagious as is desire to always improve and do whatever to help the team . Prather ( 6 ’ 1 ) is considered the team ’ s best defender . The junior guard runs the floor well and has worked hard on his jump shot . 6 ’ 4 senior Hudson Inman returns to add depth off the bench . Inman is a good post player who can step outside and led the team in charges taken last season . Sophomores Sutton Campbell and Luke Austin are looking to contribute at the high school level . Campbell ( 6 ’ 1 ) is a long guard that sees the floor well , is good with either hand , and is a good defender . Austin is a good shooter , works extremely hard , and is a good defender as well . Coach Gramling cites rebounding , good team defense , and shooting the ball well as strengths and keys to his guys success . Also , limiting the number of turnovers in a tough 1A-3 conference will be important . If CRA is able to do those things , the Falcons will be able to compete at the top of one of the toughest 1A conferences in the state with defending state champion Marked Tree and perennial power Earle . NEA Sports predicts Crowleys Ridge Academy will battle the top of the league , make it to the regional tournament , and have a chance to make the trip to the state tournament in March .
The Crowley ’ s Ridge Academy Lady Falcons are looking for improvement on the court and to compete in the tough 1A-3 conference . Coach Amy Austin will lead a group who only lost one player from last season . Senior Bailee Watson is a two year starter at guard and is one of the team ’ s best defenders . Watson will be looked at to provide leadership for the younger Lady Falcons . Juniors Kenslee Sheppard and Garnett Gamble are also two year starters at the guard spot . Sheppard is a good defender and attacks the basket well , while Gamble led the team in rebounds last season . Sophomores Ryan Gramling and Rachel Gibson should step in and make an immediate impact for CRA . Gramling is an excellent shooter and ball handler who is a quick and aggressive defender as well . Gibson is a good outside shooter with good court vision and can cause problems on defense as well . The Lady Falcons program is still a newer one looking to grow . “ This is only our second year to have a senior high girls basketball team , so we are still a new program ,” Coach Austin explained . “ After only playing conference games and a few tournaments last year , we have filled our schedule this year for more experience . Keys to success for us include playing together as a team and keeping our heads in pressure situations . We have to learn how to make scoring happen from more than one source and also rebound the ball well to give us second scoring opportunities . This team has a lot of potential to impress people and their work ethic is wonderful ! I ' m proud to be their coach and am looking forward to this season .” Look for the CRA Lady Falcons to show considerable improvement as a young program .
The Bay Yellowjackets added to their rich tradition with a 27-16 season a year ago , a share of the 2A-3 Conference Championship , a district tournament runner-up , and a trip to the state tournament . A new face will try to continue to add to the history as Coach Chase Halbrook takes over as head coach for the Yellowjackets . “ This group is my first group at Bay ,” Coach Halbrook explained . “ They have been extremely coachable since the very first practice this summer . We have great guard play for our level of ball and sneaky athleticism that you don ' t realize until you step on the court with us . We have very little experience coming back from last year , so I think it allows us to see a ton of growth throughout the season since this will be the most high school minutes 95 % of our roster has ever played .” Senior guard Kaden Hartley returns as the lone returning starter from last year . The guard has a high motor and a high basketball IQ . Hartley has the ability to score inside and out and will guard the opposition ’ s best player most nights . Coach Halbrook says Hartley will be the leader and a great example of toughness . Junior guard Jacob Willard returns the second most experience from last season . Willard is an elite shooter whose big frame allows to be an inside-out scorer . The Jackets will count on him to produce a lot of offense this season . Fellow juniors Cade Spencer and Wyatt McIllwain will look to expand their roles this season . Spencer is a guard with a high motor that can really guard . He has good ball handling skills and shoots the ball well . McIllwain is a lengthy guard who causes problems on the defensive end . He is a slasher that can knock down an open shot . Freshman Noah Watson will move up in hopes of making an immediate impact . The guard is a natural scorer from all areas on the floor , and should continue to get better as the season progresses . Sophomore Markey Dodson is considered the best athlete and best on ball defender on the team . The forward can disrupt an offense by putting a lot of pressure on the offense and can finish around the rim . Coach Halbrook has been pleased with the start of his tenure at Bay . “ If we continue to be coachable , play hard , and be great teammates , I think we will have the opportunity to compete near the top of our league ,” he explained . “ The 2A-3 will continue to be one of the toughest in our classification , but I think our guys are excited for the opportunity to show our school and community that they were ready to be passed the torch .” The league will once again be deep and balanced , but NEA Sports predicts the Bay Yellowjackets to once again be one of the teams competing at the top for another conference title .