Photo by Sarah Finnegan
Briarwood’s Jack Dicen (4) is one of the Lions’ captains this season and will step into a full-time starting role.
It’s not surprising that Bobby Kerley used some football terminology when describing the boys basketball team at Briarwood Christian School.
Speaking just prior to the start of official practice in mid-October, Kerley said his basketball team had some “fumble-recovery guys,” meaning the Lions have several players who have no problem going all-out for a loose ball.
The analogy makes sense, given that Kerley’s duty as the football team’s offensive coordinator likely won’t be complete until late November or early December, while the basketball team gets its season started on Nov. 13 at Sylacauga.
But more importantly, it gives an insight into the identity Kerley hopes the team establishes this winter. He called the players a group of “tough and feisty” individuals.
“We’ve got some blue-collar dudes to go along with the [skills] that we normally have, so I’m excited about people getting to watch how hard these guys play,” Kerley said.
Over the summer, the Lions went to camps at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Georgia State before concluding with a couple days of competition in Auburn.
“We had a good time this summer, got a lot done,” Kerley said.
Coming off a 15-12 season and Class 5A sub-regional berth in 2017-18, Briarwood lost seven players from last season’s squad, including starters Michael Hiers, Izaiah Jones and Carson Donnelly.
The conversation surrounding this year’s team begins with senior guard Jack Dicen. He got some starts at the front end of last season until the football players joined the team and will be relied upon heavily this winter. Kerley said Dicen is a terrific shooter, but he’s also a top-notch teammate.
“[He] goes to all the football games and volleyball matches and probably the cross-country meets. He just loves people,” Kerley said. “You always want somebody on your team that will bring energy to it other than yourself.”
Along with Dicen, Zac Nuyt will be Briarwood’s other team captain. Nuyt started all of last season and is a player that “can create something on his own” when needed.
Kerley is also excited about the potential of junior forward Hayden Lamey, who has a “chance to be special.”
“Hayden Lamey has a chance to be one of the better players in the county,” Kerley said. “Junior, big kid, he’ll be our 3-man. He’s terrific in transition.”
Chance Beard will give the Lions some athleticism and attributes that Briarwood hasn’t had at center since the graduation of Thomas Collier a few years ago. Collier, who stands at 6-foot-9, is now a walk-on at Auburn.
Beard is one of several players that Kerley believes can help make the Lions a solid rebounding team. Count Lamey, Cal Reebals, David Scharf and others among that list.
“When teams have hurt us, it’s usually turnovers in the backcourt or offensive rebounds,” Kerley said. “I’m excited because those guys give us a chance to go get a rebound. If we can control the rebound situation, we become pretty tough, because the kids do so many other things well.”
Mac McNamee and Alex Key are two seniors returning to the basketball program, while Brooks Donnelly, Landon Nuyt, Chase Travis, Ryan Donohoo, James Hancock, Blake Lester and Sam Russell round out the varsity squad.
