With practice a week into the season ahead of the Nov. 15 season opener, the time window is slim for the Greyhounds and new head coach Willie Reese.
As with any new coaching staff, there’s bound to be an adjustment phase. This case appears to be no different with a group that’s not short on eagerness and enthusiasm.
The flip side of that for Jones County? Experience. Minus Rudy Bowden and Tyler Wold, the JCHS roster is one filled with minimal varsity experience, meaning that a strong dose of on-the-job-training is well underway.
“We have really good kids, but I only have about two with game experience,” Reese said. “There’s a lot of talent, but you almost feel like you have JV guys who have to be taught how to win, how to act in practice, so that’s where we are right now. We just have to work through that.”
That lack of experience, Reese says, impacts how the gameplan on both ends of the floor is installed.
“We’re going slower than I normally would, you have to go simple because guys don’t have game experience,” Reese said. “If I tell I guy to get back and he hasn’t played much, he’s not used to it.”
It goes without saying that Wold and Bowden are blocks on which Reese feels like he can place the mantle of leadership. Wold has previously shown a drive to make plays in the paint near the boards. Reese adds that Bowden is pegged to take on the role of point guard.
“We’re going to lean on them a lot,” Reese said. “This year, we’ll have Rudy at point guard.”
