First year a success for James Clemens basketball camps
James Clemens girl’s basketball coach Jeff Dunnavant instructs at basketball camp
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- James Clemens basketball has come a long way in the last year. A year ago, the coaches didn’t have a team or a gymnasium. Now, with both teams coming off strong opening seasons the momentum has carried over to the off-season. One sign of the success is the basketball youth camps at James Clemens gym held in June.
The two camps were well attended with 43 kids ranging in age from first through eighth grade attending. Men’s coach Luther Tiggs held one camp and girl’s coach Jeff Dunnavant held another about two weeks later.
“We got a late start planning the camps and were late getting the brochures out but it has been well received and we’ve been pleased,” Dunnavant said.
“We emphasize skill development. The kids love the shooting competition games. They love the gotcha game because it involves hustle and competing against other players.”
Dunnavant was assisted by his players on the girl’s team.
The girl’s team is about halfway through their offseason practices and play dates Dunnavant said. They have played in one tournament in Albertville and have another later this summer in Florence. The state cut the number of play dates to four this offseason.
The competition helps coaches develop what style of play will best fit the new group of players and this has been the case with James Clemens.
“We had an idea of how we wanted to play and after playing against live competition we realized then we need to make some adjustments as to how we are going to play certain situations,” Dunnavant said.
“We have dealt with some injuries this offseason. Markala (Parker) and Haley (Hicks) are our seniors and we have played without them so far this summer due to injuries,” Dunnavant said.
“We’ve had a lot of girls step up.”
Dunnavant’s first team surprised some people last season when they finished with 15 victories and second in Area 15. They defeated Florence to advance out of the area tournament and lost in the sub-regional round against Sparkman.
That team lost one senior, China Leary.
