The Columbus High School boys basketball team isn’t afraid to acknowledge it: Last season was rough.
The Falcons finished with a losing record just one year after winning the state championship, as the title-winning team had largely departed and left inexperienced players in its wake.
That put Columbus in a rebuilding stage from which the Falcons haven’t quite emerged yet. Coach Phillip Morris knows his team is still young, with only four players who saw minutes last season back for more. But with two returning starters — a luxury Columbus didn’t have last year — Morris thinks his team can get back on the right track.
“We’re gonna surprise a lot of teams,” the second-year head coach said. “I don’t think a lot of people are expecting a lot from us, but I think down the line we’re definitely gonna surprise some people.”
Led by senior Gabe Williams and junior Blake Burnett, Columbus will face a tough schedule again. The Falcons may have moved down to Class 5A, but they’ll still face a top team from each of the state’s upper classes: Pontotoc in Class 4A, Center Hill in Class 5A and Starkville in Class 6A.
Morris said those kinds of opponents will put pressure on a Falcons team that still needs to bulk up. In fact, it’s already been done — in Columbus’ recent scrimmage with Center Hill.
“They just out-toughed us in a lot of situations,” Morris said.
Morris noted that the toughness he expects from his players extends to the mental side of things, too, and his young team is still getting there.
“I’m expecting to start off the season, we’re gonna have a lot of growing pains,” he said. “I think by the time we get to district time we should be OK. I’ve got a good group.”
Apart from Williams and Burnett, the Falcons’ core includes senior Antwan Brandy, who’s poised for a big minutes increase, and junior Eric Caldwell.
Sophomores Jaquarius Williams and Tre Dismuke are also expected to contribute.
“They’re two very coachable kids: hard nosed, tough, do anything you ask,” Morris said of his 10th graders.
With the departures of big men Jemarcus Moore and Rod Grays, Morris turned to the Falcons’ football team for a post presence. Junior quarterback Ethan Conner will join the team as soon as Columbus’ football season ends and should crack the starting lineup as soon as he’s up to speed.
“I’m hoping he’s gonna be able to help us out a lot,” Morris said.
But as long as his team’s guard play remains solid, Morris knows the Falcons are capable of plenty.
“If you’ve got good guards, you can make a lot of stuff happen,” he said.
And while it may still be a rebuilding year for Columbus, Morris is confident it won’t be anything like last year.
“We should be solid,” he said. “I really feel like we will be.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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