SUMMER BASKETBALL: Skyline aims to continue run of success despite roster changes
Story By Jason Bowen
The traditionally strong Skyline boys basketball program has played in three consecutive Class 1A Northeast Regional finals and made a trip to the Class 1A State Tournament during that stretch.
For the second consecutive season, the Vikings have lost three starters entering the season, including all-state selection and four-year starter Will Avans.
But if anyone is counting the Vikings out this season, Skyline head coach Craig McGill said his senior-laden team is out to prove it can continue Skyline’s run of success.
“They’ve got a little bit of a chip on their shoulder,” said McGill, who is entering his third season as the head coach at his alma mater. “They’ve had a really good summer. They’re going to be a lot better than what people are thinking.”
Skyline’s primary varsity roster this summer was comprised of seniors and returning starters Brody Berninger and Kristian King as well as seniors Noah West, Landon Farmer, Chandler Hurt, Camden Womack and Will Gates, juniors Micah Shelton and Noah Yates and sophomore Preston Hutchinson. Yates was unable to play this summer.
Skyline spent two days at a team camp at Wayne County (Tennessee) High School and also played two play dates at UAH and one at the Supreme Courts Facility in Guntersville.
“We saw all kinds of styles, saw athletes, saw everything. We played a lot of teams we don’t play, which is what you want. The Wayne County camp is always good — I’ve been taking teams there for 20 years. We’ve got to get better defensively, and they know that, but I was really happy (offensively). With what we lost last year, I thought we might struggle scoring, but they proved me wrong. They did a really good job of putting the ball in the hole,” McGill said.
“Kristian King, people could not keep him from getting to the rim, and Brody has worked so hard on getting past people (on the drive) and he’s still shooting it really well too. He’s worked his tail off. Noah West has gotten a lot stronger, worked super hard and really battled for us (in the post) this summer. Chandler Hurt rebounded like a madman. Landon Farmer is super skilled. He moved in last Christmas and he’s still learning how we play, but he’s come a long way. Camden and Will gave us some great minutes and Micah Shelton was great defensively, which is the role we’ve got to have from him.”
