These girls have game; Bob Jones tips season off next week
Bob Jones girl’s basketball players (l to r) Kyonna Leslie, Tyler Fredricks, and Rachel Murray
(Record photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- The Andre Reynolds era of women’s basketball at Bob Jones starts next Tuesday as the Patriots visit Grissom. The team has been practicing for several weeks but Reynolds has been preparing for this moment for many years.
“It’s a dream come true and I’m glad its finally here,” Reynolds said. “Coach Petty prepared me, he gave me a lot of responsibility as an assistant the last two years.”
The basketball part comes easy for Reynolds who coached at Athens before coming to Bob Jones. As head coach he must limit the outside distractions.
“Our girls are excited and ready to get started,” Reynolds said. “They have been working hard which is what I am most proud of. Over half the team is new players. We have three players returning who played a lot last season so we are expecting a lot out of them.”
Tyler Fredricks led the team in rebounds last year and will again be counted on play power forward. Kyonna Leslie will step into the point guard position. Her defensive skills are among the best on the team.
Reynolds has the luxury of a returning point guard, senior Rachel Murray.
“Rachel is our quiet leader. She was forced to play point guard last season when we had some transfers and that experience helped her a lot.”
Murray is expected to start the season at shooting guard where she can better utilize her shooting skills honed in years of summer AAU basketball.
“We’re guard heavy so we will look to run more,” said Reynolds.
Murray and Fredricks have played together since seventh grade at Discovery.
Emily Thomason is the tallest player and will jump center. She is coming off a knee injury but has been cleared and is practicing.
“The big thing with her is getting her confidence back.” said Reynolds who was assistant coach to Danny Petty the last two years.
Bob Jones girl’s Basketball Coach Andre Reynolds
Bob Jones returning players have some payback on their mind this season after a 21-8 mark last year. That included 3 losses to Hazel Green and 2 to Sparkman. The level of the competition will level out as Sparkman graduated three players who are now playing in college including Alexis Jennings at Kentucky.
“I haven’t been able to see the other teams because my main focus has been us. Getting these girls in sync because they haven’t played much together,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds’ bench coach will be Chris Lewis who is also an assistant football coach.
New to the program is the junior varsity coach, Nicki Madden.
Madden moved to Madison from Arizona. She played college basketball at Mesa Community College and went on to play at Montana State. Danny Petty noticed her coaching at the FCA Power Camp last summer.
Bob Jones first home game is Friday Nov. 14 against Decatur. The first area game is Friday, Dec. 12 at James Clemens.
The Lady Patriots will play in Class 7A, Area 8 with Sparkman, James Clemens, and Hazel Green.
