Cavaliers prepare for season

Augusta Prep battled Augusta Prep on Tuesday in the school's annual men's basketball Blue/White Game.

Boys basketball head coach Mark Guthrie introduced each player from the varsity and junior varsity teams before the split squad battled in a four-quarter scrimmage.

The tradition marks the start of the basketball season for the Cavaliers. According to Guthrie, it's a season with one thing on his players' mind: defense.

"We weren't a high-scoring team last year, and we probably won't be one this year," Guthrie said. "Our defense will help us outscore teams."

Though the Cavaliers don't have a large group of offensive threats to choose from, they do have their weapons.

Starting senior Michael Crosland is one of three returning starters to the team. Crosland led the Cavaliers in scoring last year as the starting point guard and will look to carry much of the offensive load this season.

Senior Trey Minor, the team's starting forward, also returns to the squad. Guthrie said Minor's versatile play underneath the basket and on the wing could add up to a big senior year.

The rest of the Cavaliers are relatively new. Guthrie said Josiah Johns, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, and Jim Hull, a 6-foot-1 freshman, are both important to the roster and Augusta Preparatory Day School's basketball future.

"We've got some younger kids this year," Guthrie said. "Josiah will play underneath the basket ... Jim has the potential to be a great scorer for us."

The Lady Cavalier's also have a new face on the squad. First-year head coach Jeremy Burden takes over the team after years of coaching experience in the Washington D.C., area.

Burden will lead a squad that lost five seniors from last season.

"We're real young," Burden said. "I don't like to use the term rebuilding or retooling. We'll just see how we do and go from there."

The Lady Cavaliers saw success last season with a 13-10 record and second-place finish in the GISA Region 4-AAA Tournament. With the youth and energy of several new faces on the team, Burden said Augusta Prep girls basketball is going to look different this season.

"We're bringing in a new style of ball," Burden said. "We'll speed up the tempo and shoot a lot."

According to Burden, one junior, sophomore and eighth-grader will team up with a pair of freshmen to make the Lady Cavaliers' starting five. Leading the charge is junior starter Mary Beth Horton.

"She'll run the point for us," Burden said. "She handles the ball well and can shoot. She's a good all-around player."

The Cavaliers and Lady Cavaliers will play at Curtis Baptist on Monday, with the girls game beginning at 6 p.m.