Playing time is the tip-off. A quick scan of the Commerce High School boys’ basketball team shows there are no returning starters. They all graduated.
But don’t count the Tigers out, said coach Chad Bridges.
Better yet, go ahead and count them out. Region 8-A probably has. That’s right where Bridges wants the Tigers to be.
“We are probably considered underdogs, at least by people outside of this gym,” he said, smiling. “But I think we have a chance to be in contention.”
It is the relative lack of known talents that may be one of the Tigers’ biggest assets in the wake of the powerful senior class, which included Tyler Gamble, Channing Anderson, who both play in college, Brandon Romans, region player of the year, Anthony Norris and Bubba Bonds.
The team finished 20-7 overall, 12-2 in the region and third in the Region 8-A tournament after an upset to Athens Christian.
While many of the teams in the league may appear the same or better, the Tigers intend to brandish some new talents. They include junior forward Robert Hayes, senior guard Chase Klugh, and junior guard Thomas McMillan.
“Everyone else is up in the air,” Bridges said, of his projected starters.
Height is a key strength, the coach said, with Hayes and McMillan listed as 6-foot-3-inches tall.
Several other players on the team are 6-foot or taller.
“Hopefully, we’ll be pretty good on defense. We have a lot of height, should do well rebounding, too,” Bridges said. “We’ll have to rely on execution.”
The coach referred to Lakeview as the “class” of the Tigers’ sub-region 8A-A, with Towns County in question this year, having graduated several key players as well.
“Towns lost a lot but you never know what they’ll do,” he said.
The Region 8A-B side is expected to be strong with Athens Christian (last year 20-7) being one of the key teams to watch, Bridges said.
