BBALL: Clarksburg teams seek region berths

Clarksburg is one of the smaller schools in West Tennessee with an average enrollment around 100 students this season.

But the Rockets have a rich basketball history as they made 30 straight apperances in the region tournament through 2012. The Lady Rockets made six straight appearances in the region tournament from 2004-09.

“We just don’t have the numbers at Clarksburg,” Clarksburg boys coach Mike Limbaugh said. “We have 98 kids right now with 42 boys in the school. We have 11 on the basketball team. We don’t have many kids walking the hallways that I can get to play basketball.”

Both Clarksburg coaches said they were for the five-class system with the smallest 60 in a class, the largest 60 in a class and then a Class A, AA and AAA in the middle.

“We are one of the 15 smallest schools in the state,” Limbaugh said. “It is hard to compete with schools that have 250-300 kids.”

With both teams being young last year, Clarksburg has aspirations of a better finish with a region tournament appearance this year.

The Clarksburg boys lost one senior from last year, so there will be plenty of experience on the floor.

“We only have two seniors this year,” Limbaugh said. “Our bulk is in our junior class with seven.”

The Rockets are led by junior Devin Wildridge, who averaged 19.6 points per game last season. Wildridge was named to the All-West Tennessee Third Team last year.

The two seniors on the team are Trent and Mason Boyd.

“Devin works hard,” Limbaugh said. “We have our two seniors, and they are good role players.”

With the small numbers, Limbaugh said staying healthy will be the key for the Rockets’ success this year.

“I think that we can compete with No. 3 down,” he said. “I don’t know if anyone can compete with Dresden this year.”

Porshe McClerking enters his third year in charge of the Lady Rockets. He will have more experience on the floor this year, but they won’t be veteran players.

On his roster of 14 players, he has no seniors, one junior and two sophomores.

“This year I will be starting freshmen,” McClerking said. “They gained experience moving up as eighth-graders.”

Mikayla Peterson is one of those players that moved up last year as an eighth-grader, and she averaged 11.7 points per game.

“She has grown her game over the summer,” McClerking said. “She started playing AAU. I knew it was there last year, but she exceeded my expectations.”

McClerking has taken a new approach to the program when he took over three years ago.

“We are starting with them in the third grade, so when they get to the seventh and eighth grade, they love the game,” he said.

The key for the Clarksburg girls will be to stay healthy and come together throughout the season, according to McClerking.

Michael Odom, 425-9754

Clarksburg Rockets

Last year’s record/finish: 7-20 (4-10)/6th in District 13-A

2 key returners: Devin Wildridge (PG); Mason Boyd (SG)

2 key series: Gleason (Dec. 13 at home, Jan. 24 on road); West Carroll (Jan. 13 at home; Feb. 7 on road)

Clarksburg Lady Rockets

Last year’s record/finish: 6-17 (4-10)/6th in District 13-A

2 key returners: Mikayla Peterson (G); Rachel Tucker (G)

2 key series: McKenzie (Dec. 16 on road, Jan. 27 on road); West Carroll (Jan. 13 at home; Feb. 7 on road)