Team Preview: Southmoore (6A)

<p>Coach Tim Stogsdill and the Southmoore SaberCats are looking to rebuild in 2021 after graduating half of their team, including five college-bound players.</p> [caption id="attachment_1085318" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Jamarion-Butler.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1085318" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Jamarion-Butler-300x205.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="205" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1049309" first="Jamarion" last="Butler"] (Joshua Cleary/Prep Hoops).[/caption] <p>A pair of seniors, [player_tooltip player_id="1049309" first="Jamarion" last="Butler"] and [player_tooltip player_id="938862" first="Damian" last="Kline"], return after playing significant minutes as juniors.</p> <p>"[Kline and Butler] played a big part last year," Stogsdill said. "The rest of these guys, they got a lot of fourth-quarter time because we were ahead."</p> <p>Stogsdill said both Kline and Butler bring valuable experience to the game.</p> <p>"Damian was on the floor as a sophomore in the state semifinals against Booker T.," Stogsdill said, "and then J.B. played some good minutes last year. . . both of them gave us good minutes, and now their roles have changed and they’ve gotta step-up.</p> <p>"Not just vocal, they’ve gotta be go-to guys," Stogsdill said.</p> <p>A pair of freshman, Jesse Ledbetter and David McClarty, will be newcomers into the SaberCats’ rotation.</p> <p>"We’re excited about both of them" Stogsdill said. "They’re two kids that have come up through our feeder program, and we think both of them could be really good players.</p> <p>"You know, you better be a stud as a freshman," Stogsdill continued," but we’re gonna throw them in the fire, and give them an opportunity. . . and they’re kind of our future right now."</p> [caption id="attachment_1085320" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Kelian-Howard.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1085320" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Kelian-Howard-300x227.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="227" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1049306" first="Keilan" last="Howard"] (Joshua Cleary/Prep Hoops).[/caption] <p>Two bright spots in the early season, Stogsdill said, have been senior [player_tooltip player_id="1015784" first="Peyton" last="Musick"], a wing sharpshooter and junior [player_tooltip player_id="1049306" first="Keilan" last="Howard"], a talented slasher and point presence.</p> <p>"Keilan’s probably our most-improved player right now," Stogsdill said. "He’s worked so hard in the offseason."</p> <p>Stogsdill also praised Musick’s shooting capabilities.</p> <p>"When he’s on, he’s on," Stogsdill said.</p> <p>Stogsdill said that a new roster means adjustments in scheme, as well.</p> <p>"We’re trying to get out and do some things defensively we haven’t normally done," Stogsdill said. "The bottom line is you’ve gotta stay healthy, you’ve gotta bring it every day in practice, you’ve gotta work on all of the little things, all of the details."</p> <p>Stogsdill also cited developing young talent as a primary goal for the season.</p> <p>"It’s all about February," Stogsdill said. "Being better than where we were at the beginning of the season. . . we’ll probably take lumps and some bruises, but we really like our group."</p>