Coming off perhaps the best back-to-back seasons in program history, Banks County boys basketball coach Mike Cleveland was prepared for a reset in 2016-17.
The Leopards won a total of 48 games and advanced to the second round of the playoffs twice over the past two seasons. However, the 2016-17 campaign, at least on paper, resembled more of a rebuilding than a reloading year. They returned just one starter in Kahmal Wiley and dropped down to Region 8-AA, which housed a state semifinalist in Monticello and talented teams in Rabun County, Elbert County, and Putnam County.
Yet the current roster -- including seniors Wiley, Stetson Boswell and Dylan Nix, juniors Gabe Martin, Dylan Orr, Darius Bonds, Grant Rylee and lone freshman Carl Cleveland -- have forced the coach to scrap his previous evaluation.
The Leopards sit 16-4 overall and a perfect 8-0 in Region 8-AA, good for first place, heading into Friday night’s region showdown with Rabun County in Tiger. They're also on a 13-game winning streak.
AccessWDUN sports reporter Jeff Hart caught up with Cleveland this week to talk about how the season has gone to this point...
QUESTION: Coach, we knew there were going to be a number of personnel changes, among other things, for the Leopards coming into this season following last year's big campaign. What were your expectations looking at a revamped roster, a new region, and a new classification?
ANSWER: I thought this group could be really good. I was concerned about experience being a factor. Kahmal Wiley is the only returning starter. Dylan Orr and Gabe Martin played off of the bench at times. Nobody else had any varsity experience. This is a good group of guys who work hard every day. They expect to win. This region is tough. Monticello was in the (Class AA) Final Four last year. Rabun made the Sweet 16. Elbert and Putnam have a lot of athleticism and talent. We knew the region would be good. Our expectations are the same every year. We want to compete on a high level and win region championships.
Q: That being said, you started off the season 1-3 and then were 3-4 after a loss to East Hall. Was it just a matter of everyone just getting comfortable with each other in the early part of the season?
A: Again, I think experience was the main contributor to our early season losses. We started with two loses to East Hall and two loses to Hart County. We have won 13 in a row since. Guys are not making the same mistakes as they were earlier in the season. Guys have bought into their roles and are playing well together. Even at that we were up in the fourth quarter of all four of our losses. We gave ourselves opportunities but could not close out games. Those losses made us better. The non-region schedule made us better.
Q: What has changed for your group, which is now on that 13-game win streak? The 16 wins at this point are tied for sixth-most wins in Class AA.
A: Even though we are inexperienced, we have older guys on this team: six seniors, seven juniors, and a freshman. These guys have watched and practiced against (former starters) Zez Steeple, Zack Orr, Trevae Cain, Kendrick Simmons, Alex Lewis, Austin Venable. They have been around for the last two or three seasons. They know what it takes to be successful from those guys. Again, game experience has been the key.
Q: Y'all have shown a penchant for winning the close games of late. You have a 7-3 record in games decided by 6 points or less, including a 3-point win at Monticello and a 2-point win at Putnam County in region play. The group has won five straight games overall decided by 6 points or less. What has been the difference since the early part of the season?
A: Our guard play has been solid. Bonds has really matured as our primary ball handler. He is a playmaker that plays with passion. He is not forcing things now but letting the game come to him. He loves the game. He has a 10 assist game this season. We have also gotten solid play from Boswell off the bench. It's like having another starter on the bench. Stetson is very smart and very unselfish. He does a lot that doesn't show up in the stats or make the paper -- hustle plays, shoots over 40-percent from the 3-point line, those two are a great combination to have. We even have put the ball in Kahmal's hands in late-game situations. At 6-foot-4, 235-pounds, Kahmal has played the point for us at times. He has played all five positions for us. We have also been solid at the foul line in late game situations. Free throws and turnovers decide most close games.
Q: Has the streak been dependent on one or two guys or have you gotten contributions throughout the roster?
A: Kahmal is a very good player and is averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks a game. With his size and strength he's a tough matchup for most people. Gabe Martin has been very consistent this year from the perimeter, averaging 11 points and has made 51 3-pointers and is shooting 43 percent. Dylan Orr at 6-7, 190-pounds has been incredible on the defensive side. He's averaging 11 points, eight rebounds and 3 blocks a game. He is long and jumps well. He has taken over games at times and has a very high ceiling. Dylan Nix provides athleticism and shooting off of the bench. Grant Rylee defends and rebounds well. Carl Cleveland, at 6-4, 205 is our freshman, and he has started the last nine games for us and has really come on, averaging 14 points and six rebounds during that stretch. He can play inside or outside. Each night it seems like different guys are stepping up. All eight are capable of scoring in double figures.
Q: The team came into the season unranked. Now, y'all are ranked seventh in Class AA (via scoreatl.com) on the strength of that win streak. Do you worry about the new-found recognition for this group having an impact as you head down the stretch drive of the season?
A: Being ranked does not bother us. We don't talk about it. We want to focus on the next game and be prepared for that opponent. We want to continue to improve and grow as a team and as a program. This team has improved as much as any team that I have coached. I still feel like we have not played our best basketball.
Q: Monticello is coming off a Class AA semifinal appearance in 2016. They have experience in the playoffs. However, you have two close wins (57-52 and 70-67) over the Hurricanes this season. They say it's hard to beat a team three times in a season. What will it take to win the region title and get that all-important No. 1 seed?
A: This region is tough, a lot of talent. We need to stay focused on the task at hand: the next opponent. I think this region will put four quality teams in the playoffs no matter who it is. Our goal is to win the region. We also know we have a lot of work to do to accomplish that goal.
