Chase Campbell looks for a teammate to pass to while falling out of bounds during Elton M. Garrett Middle School’s basketball practice.
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 | 11:45 p.m.
Brian Mullins, right, blocks DJ Koopman, left, as he takes a shot during Elton M. Garrett Middle School's basketball practice.
Tanner Howell dribbles the ball across the court during Elton M. Garrett Middle School's basketball practice.
Undefeated.
It's a word that Elton M. Garrett Middle school boys basketball coach Rick Campbell likes hearing, especially when it describes his team.
The Bobcats are 1-0 on the season after a 28-20 win at Mesquite's Charles Hughes Middle School on Dec. 20. Hughes made just three field goals with the rest of its points coming from the free throw line.
"I've never been able to say that before, and hopefully I can say it for a little while," Campbell said.
There is a month long gap between the first game and Garrett's next game on Jan. 22 at Charles Silvestri Junior High School.
The players are looking forward to continuing their success.
"The first game was awesome and I can't wait to play the rest of the season and in the tournaments," eighth grade guard Kaleb Bailey said.
Campbell hoped to play games against teams from Pahrump and Moapa Valley, but he said the Clark County School District did not allow the games because of funding.
"I like having a couple games before league play, but we couldn't this year," he said.
Campbell has a completely new team from last year's squad that went 6-3 in Southeast Division II play and finished second in the division to reach the playoffs.
While the players are somewhat new to Campbell, they are not new to each other, having played together since the sixth grade. They know of last year's success and are ready to surpass it.
"That's not enough for us. We have height this year in three big posts," eighth grade guard Corbett Fleming said.
Campbell said height is one of the strengths of the team with three players 5-foot-10 or taller.
"We're going to be really strong inside and they can also handle the ball pretty well," Campbell said.
One of those is team captain forward Michael Kelso, and the others are captains Bailey and Fleming.
"We know what everyone is able to do since we've all been together since sixth grade," Kelso said.
Brent Hinckley is the Boulder City News sports writer and can be reached at 990-7822 or [email protected].
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