Adjustments help Montgomery Central's move to Class AAA basketball

Most of Jimmy Young's friends in the high school basketball coaching business told him that his 2017-18 team had a chance to rule the roost in district, and possibly region, in Class AA.

But there was a slight problem.

Young's Montgomery Central Indians no longer compete in Class AA basketball after being bumped up to Class AAA after reclassification.

So Young traded 45-minute bus rides to places like Stewart County for 10-minute versions where his team is facing Class AAA schools in Montgomery County like Northeast, Clarksville High, Rossview, West Creek and Northwest.

"Of all the times to make the move," Young joked Friday night. "I really feel had we stayed in 2A we could have done some real damage."

Yet his Indians aren't too far off in District 10-AAA after securing the fifth seed in next week's district tournament with Friday's 56-46 victory over Kenwood.

"There is no rest in this league," Young said. "Last year we felt that we had a few games here and there where if we played just OK, we'd probably win by a lot. Not in this league, buddy. If you're not competing at a high level, you're going to get your butt spanked."

Central's players came into the season knowing the speed and physical nature of AAA basketball would require an adjustment. But it was a change they were willing to make.

"We wanted this," Central forward Ben Nelson said after collecting 19 points Friday. "We wanted to play 3A. We wanted the challenge. Maybe if we had stayed in 2A it wouldn't have been much of a challenge for us. But this district, with these city teams, it's a battle every game and we get to see exactly where we're at."

Central started the season without point guard Jarius Satterfield, who was injured. His absence was felt as much of the offense was shouldered by Nelson and Trey Spencer. Central lost eight of 11 games during Satterfield's recovery but since his return the Indians have won six of nine and finished the regular season 13-11 and 7-9 in league play.

"Practices have been different this year," Satterfield said after scoring 10 points and dishing out six assists Friday. "Coach (Young) had us better conditioned this year and we try to spread the floor a lot more and we're also smarter about when we push the ball."

Young admitted that he's had to change his style of coaching. In years past, in AA, he would let his guards loose. This year, in games of attrition in district, he's had to slow the pace.

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"I use about three or four off the bench but there are games where I limit my bench," Young said. "It depends on the game, but I've had to be careful at how much do we push the tempo. I love to run up and down the court, but it may not always be the best thing to do."

Now Central focuses on the district tournament where it will face Kenwood, again, next Friday at Northeast High. After finishing the first and second, the Eagles and Rossview will be the host sites for the opening games of the nine-team district tournament.

"We feel like we have an idea of how teams like to play us now," Satterfield said. "So we're going to be ready for the tournament."

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.