Wildcats to utilize revamped attack
By Steve Keenan the fayette tribune
Second-year Meadow Bridge boys head coach Brandon Wickline has tinkered with his offensive approach as the 2022-23 campaign approaches .
“ We ran four-guard ( sets ) last season ,” Wickline said . “ This year , we ’ re going to the more traditional three-guard , two-post lineup .”
In 2021-22 , the Wildcats posted a 3-20 record , losing 79-31 to Webster County in the opening round of Class A section tournament play .
“ We ’ re going to push the ball more ,” Wickline said . “ Last year , we didn ’ t have the depth to play as fast .
“ This year , we ’ re built better .”
He said the team will utilize pressure and stretch the defense more the full length of the court to challenge the opposition .
Three seniors — Rian Cooper , Dustin Adkins and Collin Woods — are among the players who departed from last year ’ s team . All three had at least some starts for Meadow Bridge , with Cooper being the most productive of those lost to graduation .
Cooper was among the Wildcats ’ leading scorers and led the team in several other categories , including rebounding and assists , Wickline said . “ He did everything for us .”
Returning full-time
y y y y y y y y y y Meadow Bridge Boys y y y y y y y y y y
Chris Jackson / For the Register-Herald
Meadow Bridge ’ s Conner Mullins puts up a shot during their basketball game against Greenbrier West on Friday in Meadow Bridge .
starters will be seniors Conner Mullins and Seaton Mullins . Both averaged more than 12 points per game last winter . Conner Mullins provides the ‘ Cats with solid perimeter play , while Seaton Mullins is active closer to the basket . “ When he wants to , there ’ s not a post ( that can keep up with him ),” Wickline said of Seaton . “ He ’ s fast .”
“ Conner and Seaton , they ’ re obviously going to be the go-to ( players ) for us as far as scoring ,” Wickline added .
Senior guard Dakota
Hayes also returns with some starts under his belt and is expected to enter the starting rotation on a more full-time basis this year .
A pair of junior post players — 6-foot-2 Brycen Sawyers and 6-0 Blake Bennett — will help anchor the inside play . Bennett was sidelined last year with an injured knee . Sawyers got some varsity time down the stretch . “ In hindsight , he should have been playing more varsity all along ,” Wickline said . “ He ’ s athletic and physical .”
A freshman , Kaiden Sims , will also provide impact on the interior , according to the coach .
Senior Connor Chester , junior Cordell McClung and sophomore Jakob Bowman are also pressing for quality playing time on the perimeter .
“ We have seven or eight that have separated themselves ,” Wickline said . “ And we ’ ve got some young kids and some first-time kids .”
The depth suffered a blow when senior Tryton Hayes injured his wrist , and his return status is unknown .
“ This year , we ’ re going to be more structured , but we ’ re still going to play fast ,” the coach noted . “ We don ’ t have a lot of height , but we do have speed .
“ Overall , we ’ re athletic and we ’ ll use that .”
As the season approached , Wickline was continuing to make adjustments to his team ’ s schedule due to the ongoing school construction at Meadow Bridge which currently puts the gym off limits . Games with Greenbrier West and Midland Trail were moved to later in the season in February . He is still awaiting a decision from Fayette County Schools whether the Wildcats can play some games at Rainelle Elementary School .
“ We play so many daggone games in February , it ’ s crazy ,” he said . “ With the whole thing with the gym , we ( told the players they ) have to be mentally tough about this .
“ We practice for one and a half hours , and it has to be 100 percent focused .”
In the end , Wickline says his squad should have its share of good moments this season . “ I think we definitely can be competitive . We ’ re going to be a real physical basketball team .”
24 • WV SOUTH BASKETBALL