The Adair County Indians tipped off the 2012-13 preseason on Friday with a scrimmage game versus Bethlehem at Adair County Middle School. Veteran Adair County head coach Mark Fudge was pleased with his team’s effort in the scrimmage game, which proved to be evenly matched between the two 5th Region squads.
“It was a pretty even scrimmage,” Fudge commented. “The score was erased at the end of each quarter. Bethlehem did have two or three guys out with injuries or grades. Someone said one was out playing soccer, too. During the scrimmage, I did see a lot of things we need to work on.”
Bethlehem is ranked fifth in the preseason 5th Region boys’ basketball poll, three spots ahead of eighth-ranked Adair County.
Fifth Region rivals Adair County and Bethlehem are not scheduled to meet during the 2012-13 season.
Adair County was venturing to Barren County for its second and final scrimmage game on Tuesday. With the holiday, details from the Adair County-Barren County boys’ basketball scrimmage were unavailable at press time.
The Adair County boys’ basketball program continues to be affected by early-season injuries. An early-season injury is limiting a high-scoring Adair County guard. Eighth-grade guard Kel Stotts continues to nurse an injury.
“Stotts injured his elbow in our inter-squad game and is still hurting some,” Fudge commented. “It hurts him to shoot, so he’s passing up some shots that he would normally take. Everyone else seems to be healthy at this time.”
Fudge was able to field multiple lineups during the scrimmage game versus Bethlehem. The experienced head coach will look for his team to gel as the season progresses.
“Right now, we’re struggling some with lineup rotation,” Fudge said. “Our best offensive team is not our best defensive team.”
Adair County is among the state’s youngest varsity boys’ high school basketball teams. The Indians will open the 2012-13 season at Cumberland County on Nov. 27 against the Panthers in the nightcap of a boys-girls doubleheader. Following games on the road at Green County (Dec. 2) and Marion County (Dec. 6), Adair County will host Taylor County in a home opener on Dec. 9.
By Steve LeMaster
Sports Writer