Red Devils are working together to find chemistry

Coach Roy Daniels, who has been at Augusta High School for 13 years, said the Red Devils have gained experience and improved over the past few months. The 2A-6 Conference team will kick off the season with two returning starters: junior Jalarin Briscoe, averaging 17 points, 5 steals and 5 assists per game; and junior Trevon Rucker, 15 ppg, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Daniels said the Red Devils had a record of 12-14 last season. The team has one senior, eight juniors and four sophomores, he said. Daniels said Rucker was the team’s “best big man” as a sophomore last year and made it to all-district. Briscoe was the team’s second leading scorer last season and also made all-district. “We’re expecting good things from him this year,” Daniels said. “Rucker led the team in block shots and rebounds. This is the fourth year they’ve both played for me, and they know what I’m expecting from them. They’re my team leaders.” Daniels said junior Tyrion Lewis and senior Jaydin Lee are also key players who will be assets to the team. “Lewis sat out last year, but he’s playing this year and should be an asset to the basketball team,” the coach said. Team strengths include depth and experience, Daniels said, and the team is working to find the right chemistry together. The Red Devils’ toughest opponent will be Clarendon, but McCrory is their biggest rival, he said.

Daniels said one team weakness is playing defense, and the Red Devils are practicing hard every day to overcome that. The team is also working on being more in sync, working together as a unit and building team chemistry, he said. “We’re going to up tempo — we like a fast game. That’s our strategy. They were a group of sophomores last year, but they’re juniors this year,” he said. “I think they learned from their mistakes — and they made a lot of sophomore mistakes — but hopefully, we can overcome those things this year.” Daniels said the team’s overall goal, as always, is to advance to the state playoffs. “We’ve been having some good practices and attitudes,” he said. “We just have to see what it’s going to be like when the lights come on. It’s too early to tell right now.”