Depth a problem for pirates, but athletic, excel in rebounding

The Concord boys are small in number this year, but don’t count them out. Coach Keith Cornett, a Concord alumnus, will lead the Pirates again, assisted by Scott Whillock, the high school principal and a former coach. Cornett, with an overall record of 501-221, is realistic. He said the team’s lack of depth and experience is a drawback. “We lost four starters from last year,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of numbers, for one; we’re dressing nine kids. It’s little bitty. We normally have good numbers, but this year, we don’t. Sometimes you have eight good players in a class; sometimes you have zero.” However, “we’re going to be able to rebound really well; we’re pretty athletic.” The lone returning starter coming back from last year’s 25-5 season is junior Bryar Cousins. “He is one of the best motors I’ve ever coached. The kid plays extremely hard, and he can score in many ways,” Cornett said. Bryar will be joined on the court by his brother, sophomore Braxton Cousins. At 6-5, 220, “[Braxton is] a pretty big skilled man for a 10th-grader,” Cornett said. The team may have its drawbacks, but there is reason to be optimistic, he said. “Inside, we’re going to be able to score,” the coach said. Braxton Cousins and junior Hunter Spinks will be reliable inside. Spinks played a lot of minutes last season, Cornett said, so he has some experience, which will be invaluable. Outside, the coach said the team will look to Bryar Cousins and junior Rodney Brock, “a really good ball handler; he played a lot of minutes, too, last year. He’s just solid … a really good decision-maker.” The Pirates are in a different — tougher — conference, switching from 2A South to 5A North, the coach said.