WILLIAMSBURG — If you’re a Williamsburg Yellow Jacket fan, you’ve got to be happy with the way the orange and black played to open the season.
Eleven players scored as Williamsburg cruised to an easy, 103-20, win over Ligon.
Andrew Smith led the way with 28 points while also joining the 1,000-point club during the game. Lakin Cunagin added 14 points while Nate Goodin chipped in 12 points.
“First off, I am proud of how our guys came out tonight,” Williamsburg coach Anthony Hibbard said. “We had 11 different players on the scoreboard, which speaks to how well we shared the ball. We have been working hard on that aspect, and to see it pay off right out of the gate is a great feeling. Offensively, we played with good pace and unselfishness, and defensively, we were able to force a lot of turnovers and get out in transition.
“Andrew Smith surpassed 1,000 points with his performance tonight,” he added. “Reaching 1,000 points is a big deal, not just for him, but for our program. He’s put in the work over the years, and it’s great to see him hit that milestone. More than the points, though, it’s his leadership and the way our seniors, Conner Saylor, Cooper Prewitt, Lakin Cunagin, and Nate Goodin are stepping up to help lead our team is what I am more proud of.
“Just feels good to see everyone on the court tonight,” Hibbard continued. “We’ve got a lot of guys who are involved in other sports, so our basketball workouts have been delayed. It’s been a bit of a slower start in terms of basketball-specific work, but I believe that as we get more reps and continue to practice, we are only going to get better. Every day is an opportunity to improve, and I’m confident we’ll be where we need to be.”
Williamsburg will hit the road Thursday, traveling to play the Knoxville Ambassadors.
Hibbard said he liked how his players played on Monday, but admitted his team remains a work in progress.
“We have got a long way to go, but I really like the makeup of this team,” he said. “They’re a great group of guys, and we are putting in the effort every day. Tonight was about continuing to piece things together, working on our rhythm, and getting comfortable with the way we want to play. There’s still a lot we need to clean up, but I’m excited to see how we continue to grow.”