The Athens Messenger Friday, November 30, 2018 Page B3

ATHENS BOYS ATHENS GIRLS

Bulldogs have high Athens returns

expectations going into starting lineup for
new season final run together
Cozart enters his third season leading Athens
BY KEVIN WISEMAN
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR
on the court for the ‘Dogs.
“He’s just an absolute
Penrod transfered out of
Athens to the Toledo area for Bulldogs enter season with experience
leader,” Cozart said. “He’s his junior season, but returns BY KEVIN WISEMAN up the backside rebounds. Athens this winter.
The Athens Bulldogs were more ready to go this year for his senior year. MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR She does a lot of good “She has really worked,”
one of the hottest teams in the then I’ve seen him. Usually “He’s a wrecking ball,” things for us.” Matheny said. “She had a
area by the time the 2017-18 takes him a little longer to get Cozart said. “He is a strong, The Athens girls’ basket- Mills will return for an- little bit of an injury last
regular season ended. rolling. He’s already rolling. strong kid. It is surprising ball team has experience. other season in the post for year and didn’t get to finish
With a veteran cast of He’s ready.” how high that kid can jump. The juniors and seniors Athens. the season, but she is really
juniors and seniors returning, Eli Chubb (6-4) is another He can go grab the rim with on the roster are essentially “She does a whole bunch worked her tail off in the
head coach Mickey Cozart senior that gives Athens both two hands. entering their third season of things that do not reflect gym and really improved.”
hopes the Bulldogs can pick height inside and a soft shoot- “He’s getting better. He’s playing together. Now it’s on the stat sheet,” Matheny Harper Bennett, Kesi
up where they left off. ing touch on the perimeter. had a lot to learn. He wasn’t time for the Bulldogs to said. “You need a tough Federspiel and Haylie Mills
Athens should be able to “Eli led our team in blocks around here last year, so he’s take the next step under basketball play, she’s go- are three freshmen that will
hit the ground running this last year,” Cozart said. “He having to learn the system, second-year coach Seth ing to be the one to make balance out the Bulldogs’
season with a roster featuring just gets himself in the right but he’s picking up pretty Matheny.
seven seniors, four juniors place at the right time. He’s quick.” The Bulldogs will have
and a sophomore. just absolutely been lighting Junior Brayden Markins some youth sprinkled in
“They came in really it up so far this year. He’s (6-2) will also factor in Ath- — they have three fresh- It’s been huge. Just that
ready to roll,” Cozart said. shooting it at a high level.” ens’ rotation. men who will see varsity
“It started in June. When you Senior Elijah Williams “Markins works as hard as
familiarity with everything
minutes — but the rest of
have a veteran club like that, (5-7) was new to the program any kid I’ve ever coached,” the roster is dotted with re- that we’re doing. Now when
you feel like you’re a little last year as a point guard. He Cozart said. “He’s never turning lettermen including
ahead of the game.” split time in the role last year not going to give you effort. all five returning starters. I make a call we have the
Athens returns 46 of its with Micah Saltzman, but When you see him at the end “We’re finally one of terminology down to where
60 points, including four now takes over the reigns full of the game he’s dripping. the older groups across the
starters, from its tournament time. There’s a reason. He’s a guy league,” Matheny said. “We everybody’s on the same
game against Vinton County. Cozart said that Williams that’s going to go out and finally don’t have all that
The Bulldogs were 12-10 a learned a lot last season, and he’s going to work.” inexperience that’s out on
page. That’s been a drastic
year ago, finishing second that experience will help Amid all the upperclass- the court all at the same difference for us.
in the Tri-Valley Conference him and the Bulldogs going men will be sophomore time.”
Ohio Division at 9-3. forward. Brayden Whiting (6-3). The team will also have
Athens won nine in a row “We really worked with Cozart expects him to be part the benefit of having a sec- Athens girls coach, Seth Matheny
to close the regular season him a lot,” Cozart said. “He of the Bulldogs’ plan. ond year under Matheny.
last year, and now Cozart en- had to come in last year and “He’s going to play every “It’s been huge,” he said.
ters his third season leading get a system that is pretty game,” Cozart said. “We like “Just that familiarity with
the program. complicated in a very short what he can do. He can shoot everything that we’re doing. it. Her help-side defense, veteran roster.
“What it’s really been able time. This really gave him the ball. He’s smart, extreme- Now when I make a call we rebounding is huge for us.” “They’re fundamentally
for us to do is add. So we time to mature and grow. We ly coachable kid. He doesn’t have the terminology down Junior guard Laura Man- sound basketball players,”
can add to what we do and expect good things out of bat an eye. Whatever we ask to where everybody’s on the derick has been the team’s Matheny said. “Between
make it a little better, where him.” him to do, he does. He’s go- same page. That’s been a leading scorer the last two those three they give us a
we might have not been able Junior Isaiah Butcher (6-4) ing to be an impact player.” drastic difference for us.” seasons. She averaged 15.7 little bit of depth that we
to get to that last year,” he came into his own as a sopho- The Bulldogs will open The Bulldogs have won points and 4.7 rebounds definitely didn’t have last
said of the experience going more and should continue to the season with a tough test, five games each of the last per game last season. She year.”
into the season. “It’s really grow this season. Butcher is hosting Gallia Academy three seasons, including enters the season with 712 The Bulldogs are off to
just adding to what we like another big body for the Bull- on Friday. A home game back-to-back 5-18 cam- career points. a 1-1 start to the season.
to do.” dogs who can also step out against the two-time defend- paigns. “She did a lot more than They opened with a 58-29
The Bulldogs will lean on and shoot from long distance. ing league champion Vinton The Bulldogs have three just score last year. She loss last Friday at Fairfield
each of their seniors, some of “He’s a game changer,” County Vikings looms on seniors that have all seen helped us when people are Union, but rebounded for a
which started seeing varsity Cozart said. “That big of a Dec. 14, and another home playing time since their pressing us,” Matheny said. 51-46 home win over New
minutes either during their kid, he can stretch the court. game comes against Alexan- freshman seasons in Emma “We ask her to do a whole Lexington on Monday.
freshmen or sophomore When you can shoot the ball der on Dec. 21. Harter, Kaylee Stewart and lot. Having her back, that’s Athens went 3-9 in the
seasons. like that, now their bigs have Athens will also play Wa- Lilly Mills. also a big benefit.” Tri-Valley Conference Ohio
Senior Logan Maxfield to come out and guard him verly (Dec. 1) and Chesapeake Harter, now a four-year Junior guard Mindi Division a year ago, tied for
(6-foot-1) is one of the some. Now he’s doing a lot (Dec. 8) early in the season. starter, will be the team’s Gregory is another player fifth with Wellston.
Bulldogs’ leaders. He can do of post work this year. he’s The Bulldogs should get a leader. who has been on varsity The league will once
a little bit of everything on finally buying in a little bit good idea where they standing “We’re in those younger since her freshman season. again be tough, providing
the basketball court, and has more into ‘I can score down heading into the holidays. player’s ears all the time, “Defensively, when Athens with challenges in
proven that over the previous there too.’ Butch will have a With so much experience, ‘look, watch what we’re she’s on she’s very tough,” order to climb higher in the
three seasons. good season.” expectations are high for the doing here. Watch what Matheny said. “Offensively standings. Matheny feels
“Logan helps us in just Athens has two senior for- Bulldogs. Cozart said the she does, how she car- we’re trying to get her to be like the Bulldogs have more
about every facet of the wards in Josh Mace (6-5) and goals are the same every year ries herself, on and off the a little more aggressive.” wins coming this season
game,” Cozart said. “He’s a Guage Penrod (6-0) that are though, and that health is a court,’” Matheny said of Sophomore guard though, as three experienced
physical kid. He’s trimmed new to varsity basketball but big factor. Athens has dealt Harter. “It’s nice to have Bella Tan made a splash on seniors make their last stand
down a ton this year. He’s in will give Athens more size on with a bevy of injuries the her around.” varsity a year ago and is in a Bulldog uniform.
the best shape that I’ve seeen the court. previous two seasons. Stewart led the team in another returning player for “As far as those up-
him in all four years. He Mace played heavy min- “We have to stay healthy. rebounding last season and the ‘Dogs. perclassmen that are out
really took the offseason and utes in JV last year, and Co- As long as we can stay has the capability to score. “Bella is definitely go- there, they want to go out
was very serious about it and zart expects him to surprise healthy, we’ll be alright. The “She’s a pretty skilled ing to be in the rotation,” on a good note,” he said. “It
you can tell. people this season. last two years we haven’t offensive player,” Matheny Matheny said. means a whole lot to them.
“Logan’s ready to go. He’s “They’re going to go been able to do that, but said. “We hope that shows Junior Emmarald Jean- Not that it didn’t last year
had some great scrimmages. ‘where did he come from?’ right now we’re healthy,” he as we get into the season. Francois primally played but your final ride means a
We look forward to what he That’s what they’re going said after the annual Shrine She’s another one that does JV ball last season, but will pretty good amount to those
shows this year.” to say,” Cozart said. “’Who Preview. “No sickness. No the grunt work. She cleans fill a role as a forward for girls.”
Senior Justin Hynes (6-5) is that kid?’ He’s strong. He lingering issues. We are as
leads Athens in the post. One has a good touch around the ready to play as we’ve been
of Athens’ smartest players, rim. He’s probably the most since I’ve taken over. Our
he usually helps direct traffic patient post player we have.” expectations are pretty high.”

MESSENGER FILE PHOTO BY LOUISE FISH FILE PHOTO BY ALEX HAWLEY OF THE GALLIPOLIS DAILY TRIBUNE
Athens’ Logan Maxfield goes up for a shot against Alexander last year. Maxfield is one of a Athens’ Emma Harter goes up for a shot during a game at Gallia Academy last season. Harter is
group of experienced Bulldog basketball players. a four-year starter for the experienced Bulldogs.