Semoball

Bloomfield basketball working on chemistry

Bloomfield's Jeffrey Jarrell (right) eyes the basket in front of a pair of Senath-Hornersville defenders during the Rib City Shootout on July 12, 2019, at the Bearcat Event Center.
DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith

The Bloomfield boys basketball roster took a hit this spring.

Eight players graduated from that roster, leaving only four with varsity experience.

The Wildcats lost three of their top four scorers: Travis McCullough (16.4 points per game), Malik Williams (7.9) and Carson Blair (7.7).

Second-leading scorer, junior Parker Heaton, returns. He had eight points but scored in double figures seven times, including a season-high 25 against Holcomb. He led Bloomfield with 13 points in its final game, a 79-48 loss to district runner-up Oak Ridge in the first round of the Class 2 District 3 tournament.

Seniors Jameson Dodd, Gage McNeil and Sam Whitaker are the varsity’s only other returning players from a squad that went 6-18.

The Wildcats were more competitive than their final record indicated. They lost seven games by eight or fewer points, including four by two or fewer.

Bloomfield has been busy this summer, breaking in the team’s juniors and sophomores who are making the jump from junior varsity to varsity. The team has competed in all three Rib City Shootouts in Dexter and shootouts at Advance, East Carter and Malden.

“We’re trying to get them playing as much as we can this summer,” Bloomfield coach Brandon Crook said. “Get a little chemistry going, a little cohesion. Get working like a well oiled machine come November.”

The players moving up from the JV squad enjoyed some success last season, winning 14 or 15 games, according to Crook.

“We’ve got a few juniors, we’re hoping, from that JV squad that can come in and play significant roles or just play their roles and help us out,” Crook said.

Junior Nic Carter and sophomore Jeffrey Jarrell were among varsity newcomers who made an impact Friday, July 12, in the Wildcats’ 43-39 loss to Senath-Hornersville at the Rib City Shootout in Dexter.

“Summer’s always hit and miss with having everybody there,” Crook said. “They work hard. I’ve seen some good things and seen some things we need to work on. Overall, things have been going pretty well.”

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: