Sellers, West Hall ready to show what they can do

OAKWOOD - A solid start to the 2006-07 season for the West Hall boys basketball team was cut down just as the Spartans were ready to take off.

Two players were lost to grades and another suffered a season-ending knee injury three seconds into his first game as the starting point guard.

So entering the current season with just one returning starter does not scare coach Warren Sellers.

"Obviously you would love to three or four guys back from the year before but after last season we don't worry about who we don't have," Sellers said Tuesday as the Spartans prepared for their season-opener Nov. 17th against Forsyth Central in the Forsyth County Turkey Shootout tournament.

Six-foot, five-inch senior forward Ricky Vitale is the only starter left from last year's 10-13 team that struggled after Will Pate blew out his knee. But Sellers said despite that he will possess one his most athletic teams in his seventh year as coach of the Spartans.

Senior Derek Weatherly (6-5 center) and a host of juniors, led by center Marquise Stephens and point guard Terrell Penland, will give West Hall several options. Kabon Williams will share time with Penland at the point and Rodney Gibson also will see action in the backcourt.

"We feel like we will be much better at handling the ball and playing better defense," Sellers said. "Those were the two areas that killed us last year."

And with Region 7-AAA virtually up for grabs this year, Sellers said getting off to a good start will be important.

"We need some confidence early," he said. "There will be no easy games on the schedule but we feel we will be competitive. If we can get a couple of wins early that will mean a world of difference for these guys.

"We like our chances at being in the (playoff) hunt at the end as long as we can keep everyone healthy. But it's that way every year."