It’s been a slow start for Columbia basketball this season as the boys and girls teams have combined to go just 3-18 in 2021.
Although the Wildcats (2-8, 0-1) have improved since getting their football players back, Columbia is still trying to find its footing and identity. In their last four games, they suffered a 60-59 road loss to North Forrest Dec. 7, 53-47 home loss to Seminary Dec. 10 and a 62-31 home loss to Forrest County AHS Dec. 14 before picking up their second win of the season over West Marion Friday in a 69-31 road drumming of the Trojans.
The Lady Wildcats picked up their first win of the season at home Dec. 10, holding on late for a 37-35 win over Seminary. But they followed it up with a pair of losses that became more lopsided than they should have been.
At home Dec. 14, Columbia struggled in its district opener against Forrest County AHS with a 50-33 loss. Then Friday at West Marion, the Lady Wildcats fell behind early and the deficit was too much to overcome in a 72-48 loss.
Lady Wildcats head coach Charlie James said one of the biggest areas of focus for Columbia has been defensive rebounding and limiting second-chance opportunities. The other big focus area has been protecting the basketball and not gifting free possessions to the opposition.
“Those two things have given us more trouble than opponents have given us. It’s us not valuing the basketball and us not rebounding the basketball well,” he said. “We’re going through a lot of growing pains and have a lot of young kids that we’re playing and asking a lot of. You see good spurts, but other times they’re overwhelmed. We just have to keep grinding and get them coached up.”
Both Columbia teams played East Marion in the East Marion Holiday Classic Tournament, but results were unavailable at press time. James said prior to the Lady Wildcats’ game, he wanted their focus on limiting turnovers and second-chance opportunities.
“If we take care of the basketball and limit second-chance opportunities, I like our chances,” he said. “Defensively, when you go back and look at all the games we’ve played, when we’ve held opponents under 40 points, we lost by only one, two or three points. That’s kind of our goal — to hold teams to no more than 45 points — to give ourselves a chance.”
The Columbia teams will play either Harrison Central or Jeff Davis County Thursday at East Marion, depending on Tuesday’s results.
Wildcats head coach Jordan Dupuy could not immediately be reached for comment.
UPDATE: Both Columbia teams lost to East Marion Tuesday and will play Jeff Davis County Thursday.
