Three basketball starters back for Wildcats

First-year Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball  head coach Mike Chamness likes the direction his team is going so far.

“We’re a lot further along that I thought we’d be,” Chamness said. “I’m really impressed with the first week of practice and intensity we’ve shown.”

The Wildcats return three starters from last year’s 16-14 squad for the 2010-11 season.

The returning trio includes a pair of seniors in 5-10 guard Cody Livesay and 6-7 center Tyler Duckworth, along with 6-4 junior forward Brady Wright.

“I think Tyler and Brady are two of the best post players in the conference,” Chamness said. “I’m expecting big things out of them.”

Other seniors in the mix are 5-10 guard Brady Carter, 5-8 guard Chad Mayes and 6-3 forward Alex LeFevre. Juniors who could see action are 6-1 guard Travis Smith, 6-0 guard Jaden Ayers and 6-1 guard Dalton Baker.

Chamness said Livesay and Smith are the 3-point shooting threats for the Wildcats.

“They can both shoot it,” he said.

Chamness said the team was headed in the right direction last year under former A-J head coach Rob Wright, who had the school’s first winning season in several years.

“I’m very thankful to Rob,” Chamness said. “I thought he did a great job with his system for the team.”

Chamness said that with the big post players setting up on the inside for the Wildcats, the team won’t strictly play a run and gun style of basketball.

“We’re going to try and do more ball screens to create some offense,” Chamness said. “We’re going to be more half court than last year. Our strength will be playing smart and making the right play when we have it.”

Chamness said he is concerned that the Wildcats don’t have a very deep bench.

Assistant coaches are Josh Staples and Kyle Hauenstein. Volunteer assistant coach is Josh Stegle.

Chamness sees a toss- up in the Southern Illinois River-to-River Mississippi Division Conference race.

“Nashville and Pinckneyville won’t be as good as they have been,” Chamness said. “Du Quoin has got some players back and Sparta is always tough up there. With Carterville coming in, it ought to be a balanced conference. I see a lot of teams beating each other. There’s no clear-cut favorite. But I’d like to finish around the top. I think we can beat some good teams this year.”

A-J opens its season in the Harrisburg Tournament Monday, Nov. 29.