Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — The numbers may be a bit low, but Athens boys basketball coach Bob Woodward likes the look of his roster as the Wildcats prepares for the 2019-20 season.
“We’re excited about the guys we have in the gym,” said Woodward. “I never really look at it as how many we have. I look at it as how many want to be here, and how many want to play or each other.
“We have those guys right now,” he added.
The Wildcats have 16 or 17 on their roster, including four seniors — Keegan Rude, Brady Smith, Aaron Lane, and Damian Hudson.
“I’m really proud of our seniors,” said Woodward. “All four of them are being great leaders by example, they’re really helping the sophomore and freshmen groups out in practice, and showing them what the expectations are.
“As far as practice goes, a senior like Brady Smith has really stepped up in practice in terms of toughness, taking charges, and diving on the floor,” he added. “It’s good to see.”
Woodward said he’s using the preseason to build team chemistry.
“The focus is coming together, playing for one another, and working to be the best we can possibly be. We don’t know what that is yet, but we want to find out.”
Athens will play Loyalsock, Montoursville, a home-and-way with Edison, and could face Waverly in the Valley Christmas Tournament.
“We’re going to play some very good teams in our non-league schedule,” said Woodward. “Hopefully, it’s going to really help us.”
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens coach Bob Woodward. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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