By Megan Hecox
The 7th-grade Waldron Bulldogs ended up falling to the Lamar Warriors by 3 points in lastnights game but they aren’t going to let this loss deter them. Although the team might not have the highest numbers on their roster, what they do have is lots of potential and will continue to build on the Bulldog legacy. “With the 7th grade, we really try to focus on the fundamentals of the game and try to keep a very simple approach,” says Coach Josh Atchley. “Traditional, here at Waldron, most of the 7th graders we get have never played basketball before and definitely not at a competitive level, so we have to start laying that foundation of the basics of the game.”
The 7th-grade team has seen some struggles this season because of their conference having to travel so far. Coach Atchley explains, “Most teams have elected to play 4 game nights with Jr and Sr High so we have struggled to find 7th-grade games.” The 7th-grade Bulldogs will continue to work on their offensive and defensive skills so that they will be ready for when they return to action on January 12th in Cedarville starting at 9 am.
In the 8th grade game, the Jr Bulldogs left their mark in Lamar with a 3 point victory over the Warriors. “We got a chance to see what our Varsity team might look like next year,” said Coach Atchley. “As a group, we do not have much size but make up for it with our work ethic. Every day is an opportunity to add value and we stress that to our guys. Adding value to the team doesn’t always mean having to score or shoot well. Nathan Settle adds value to our team by being a great teammate. He is always motivating his team and can execute anything I may ask him to do.”
All of the Jr High and Sr High teams will be back on home court January 8 at 4:30 pm when the Charleston Tigers come to town.
