After going 20-8 last year, the Louisville boys basketball program is off to a 1-5 start. With the Louisville football program playing late into November, basketball numbers have taken a hit, as the Wildcats have relied on an 8- to-10 player roster for the first month of the season. Of those 10 players, four are freshmen.
“I hate to say it like this, but you have to play with whatever hand you’re dealt,” LHS coach Kenyon Ross said. “Like everybody says, ‘Next man has to step up.’ Right now, I really feel that we could have a pretty good team if we have everybody back. We had a productive summer, and right now, publications have us one of the top 10 for teams in 4A. They also have us ranked to win our district. And when you only have two seniors, that tells you a lot about what people think of your young kids who are coming through.”
The Louisville boys have made the playoffs in each of Ross’ years at the school, and the four-year coach said despite the slow start, his players haven’t become unaccustomed to playing at a high caliber.
“Most of the kids that I have, the older kids I do have who are playing right now, they are used to competing at a high level and everything like that,” Ross said. “So it’s challenging and frustrating to them because they know the type of team that we possibly could have.”
The Wildcats will get a boost this week when shooting guard Vasedrick Culberson returns to the lineup. Culberson, a junior, underwent stress fracture surgery on both legs.
Culberson played in 24 games last year and averaged 6.7 points per game.
Tequavious Braggs, a point guard, is Louisville’s leading scorer this season, as he’s scoring 18.2 points per game.
“He brings quickness to the team, and he’s capable of knocking down some big shots,” Ross said.
Tyrell Thames, a sophomore, is second on the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game. In addition to his ability to score often, Thames brings versatility to the Wildcats.
“He’s really a 2, 3 guard, but right now I have to have him play the 4 — he’s my backup center,” Ross said. “He’s a streaky shooter. He can build it up. He’s the type that, when he gets on a roll, it could be a long night for my opponents.”
