Big shoes to fill

Ron Counts, Staff Writer
Published: December 2, 2008

Since the beginning of practice, Culpeper’s boys basketball coach James Thompson has been preaching three things to his Blue Devils: Attitude, effort and commitment.

With a roster that only boasts one player that has varsity experience — senior Spencer Allen — those attributes may be as important to the Blue Devils as being able to sink a jump shot.

“I don’t really think about what we don’t have,” Thompson said. “Don’t tell me what I don’t have, tell me what I have and we’ll work from there. Wins and losses are going to come, we just have to deal with them when they do.”

A year after winning a share of the Cedar Run District title, Culpeper will take the court Friday against Orange with only three seniors and at least three players that haven’t played organized basketball in two years.

“I told the guys they have to decide if they’re going to be lions or antelopes,” Thompson said. “Last year, we were the hungry lion. This year, we better be that fast antelope avoiding all those other lions that are ready to pounce.”

Luckily, speed is going to be a big part of the Blue Devils’ game plan this year, and that means conditioning has been a big factor in their preparation.

That rang true during practice when Thompson had his players doing sets of 150 hops over jump ropes and 50 sit ups after they had already been running up and down the court doing five-on-five drills.

“Conditioning is going to be big for us because we’re small,” Thompson said. “We’re not going to be able to attack the rim, so we’re going to have to be able to run and shoot the ball late. If you’re going to be an up-tempo team, you’ve got to be in shape.”

Thompson will be looking to his seniors — Allen, Cameron French and Steven Dodson — for leadership this season, and he feels pretty comfortable putting them in that role.

“Steven shows a lot of toughness and heart and I like that,” the athletic director at St. Lukes said. “And Spencer brings a lot of calmness. You won’t see him get rattled.”

With such a done that by taking his team to watch a U.Va. practice and to see the Wizards play the Rockets.

“Right now we’re trying to change these guys whole approach to the game,” Thompson said. “It’s important for the team to see me without a whistle around my neck, yelling at them during practice.”

The Blue Devils have won scrimmages against Louisa and Spotsylvania during the preseason, and Thompson said those games showed how important three-pointers and free throws are going to be this season.

“You can live by the three and die by the three,” he said. “And free throws are always going to decide the outcome of a game.”

Thompson knows his youth-laden team is going to have its ups and downs this year, but he’s not just focusing winning this season, he’s keeping his eye on the big picture.

“My responsibility is not to just win this year,” he said. “Not only am I trying to compete in the Cedar Run District, I’ve got to establish a program that will have an easier transition to the Battlefield District.”

Ron Counts can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 166 or .

Devils’ schedule
Dec. 5: vs. Orange, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9: at Battlefield, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10:  at Orange, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12: vs. Stonewall Jackson,
7:30 p.m.
Dec. 16: at Osbourn,
7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17: at James Monroe, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: vs. Liberty, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 22: vs. EVHS, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 27: Holiday tourney
Dec. 29: Holiday tourney
Dec. 30: Holiday tourney
Jan. 6: at Fauquier, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 7: vs. James Monroe, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9: at Loudon Valley,
7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13: vs. Osbourn Park, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 16: vs. Battlefield,
7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23: at Stonewall Jackson, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 27: vs. Osbourn,
7:30 p.m.
Jan. 30: at Liberty, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3: at Fauquier, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6: vs. Loudon Valley,
7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10: at Osbourn Park, 7:30 p.m.

Devils’ roster
Josh Majors
Justin Smith
Bobby Zajwkowski
Steven Dodson
Cortez Rollins
Enaam Karim
Brian Thompson
Cameron French
Richard Carpenter
Mike Leftwitch
Larry Ralph
Jamie Banks
Spencer Allen