Falcons are already a work in progress
By Steve Williams
For years, Fulton basketball coach Jody Wright had to give up half of his team so they could get ready and play in the football playoffs.
That wasn’t the case this season as the Falcons fell short of qualifying for the football playoffs.
“I think this is the first time since maybe 2008 or 2009 that I started practice with all 12 guys,” said Wright.
The Falcons started practice on Monday (Nov. 3) and also practiced Tuesday, when it was a holiday for Knox County students. Last Wednesday was Day 3.
If he had his druthers, Coach Wright said he would have preferred seeing Fulton in the football playoffs. That would have meant more victories for the Falcons.
“We were used to it,” he said. “No. 1 because we share so many athletes.
We’ve done it for so long, it’s kind of just old hat.”
And you don’t get a lot done with a “skeleton group” anyway, said Jody.
Wright had 16 players at practice on Wednesday, plus freshmen on the other end of the court. A couple of transfers have also joined the team.
“We are trying to improve some areas that we were not strong in last season,” said Wright. “We’re in the weight room right now. We’re trying to get stronger. We weren’t able to play a physical game last year. And we got bullied a lot just because of our youth and lack of strength.
“Guys get older just by the calendar. They don’t get stronger by just waking up in the morning. You got to work on that. So we work pretty hard on getting stronger.”
Junior standout Nick Steen and senior Rejuan Womble are two returning starters. Womble was on the sideline Wednesday due to an ankle injury late in Friday’s final football game of the season. He is expected to be back this week.
Jymari Martin, a big and strong sophomore, attracted some attention. “I like Jymari,” said Wright. “I think he’s got a chance to be a good basketball player here. I really do.”
This will be Wright’s 41st season as a high school head coach. His career win total is 888.
The Falcons lost in the first round of the TSSAA state tournament last season and finished with an 18-17 record.
