By Noah Kinnisten, Sports Editor
As the new year rolls around, so does First Flight’s 2021 basketball season. But with this new season come many new changes for the players and coaches.
First off, practices are much different due to the NCHSAA rule being enforced that all players and coaches must wear masks to practice. Although this has been a big change, both women’s head coach Ray Richards and men’s head coach Chad Williams agree that the masks are just a slight adjustment the teams must just get used to so they can play during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Other than wearing masks, practices have been normal,” Richards said. “After a while you just forget you are wearing them.”
Added Williams: “Although playing (and coaching) in a mask is very weird, we are getting more used to it every day. We are taking many more breaks in practice than we have in the past.”
Other big changes for this season include restrictions on fans – no more than 25 per game, with players and cheerleaders getting vouchers for their parents to be able to buy tickets – and a limited regular-season schedule of just 14 games. Last year, the women’s team went 11-11 and the men’s team finished 20-9.
On the women’s side, there will be a handful of fresh new faces on the court to look for as well as some star-studded returners. Junior Emma Richards averaged 12 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists per game last year, while senior Liz Clagett averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals per game while also leading the team in blocked shots.
“We added a great freshman class of Khloe Tucker, Josie Voight, Carly Gardill, Kellan Morris and Hailey Stanley,” Richards said. “Our go-to players are our two returning all-conference players – Liz Clagett and Emma Richards – and our experienced seniors of Bella Schweitzer and Hanah Chavez.”
The men, on the other hand, had some very impactful losses from the team that went 10-0 in the Northeastern Coastal Conference, winning the school’s first-ever regular-season conference championship.
“Obviously we lost one of the best duos in school history in Dylan Blake and Jordan High,” Williams said of the graduates who averaged 47 points per game. “Alongside them was Joe Davidson, and those three were four-year varsity players that led us to the most successful four-year stint in school history.”
Now, a great new group rises from JV and will be joined by two new players who have just come here from out of town. The newcomers join top returners Isaac Dobie, a wing who averaged 10 points per game in a strong freshman season; and senior Trent Rodman and junior Ian Crumpler, who each averaged three assists per game in extensive playing time. Seniors Jared Gwatkin and Callahan Lutz return as well after battling through injury-plagued seasons.
“We have added some key additions off of last year’s JV team in Cason Smith, Nigel Kyger, Cooper and Eli Hawk, Kendrick Pierce and Cam Van Lunen,” Williams said. “Additionally, sophomore Seamus Flynn and junior Shawn Taylor have moved into the area. Jack Voight is out as a senior for his first year of basketball and freshman Carson Hahne round out the newcomers.”
For years, the Nighthawks have thrilled rowdy crowds with their uptempo offense that shoots 3s from all over the court. Losing all the emotion from the fans will be hard to get used to for the players and coaches from both teams.
“The weirdest thing this season will be the empty bleachers. I hate quiet gyms,” Richards said. “That will be an adjustment.”
Both teams are pushing to be contenders in the NCC this season, but also recognize that this chance to play is a privilege. More than anything, the goal is to play a full season with no interruptions.
“The only hope/expectation I ever have is to be competitive in the league,” Richards said. “My additional hope is that we can make it through the season.”
Williams agreed. While the season opens tonight at Camden (see schedule below), Senior Night – typically reserved for the last home game of the season – will he held Friday against Manteo for the basketball players and cheerleaders.
“Our goals never change. Every year we want to win or challenge for the conference championship,” he said. “But every game is important, because at any time we could have to quarantine, an opponent could have to, or the state could pause everything. This year, I think we will appreciate every opportunity we have to step on the floor.”
Junior Noah Kinnisten can be reached at 22KinnistenNo93@daretolearn.org.
First Flight 2021 Basketball Schedule
JV Boys 4:30, Varsity Girls 6:00, Varsity Boys 7:30 – Watch the Nighthawks on YouTube for every home game!
JV Boys Basketball (4:30 start times): https://youtu.be/Eh1AAOrKXzQ
Varsity Girls Basketball (6:00 start times): https://youtu.be/6ZmDwdBnQuo
Varsity Boys Basketball (7:30 start times): https://youtu.be/uVrkxjZ-AwI
- Wednesday January 6 @ Camden
- Friday January 8 vs Manteo
- Wednesday January 13 vs Camden
- Friday January 15 @ Manteo
- Tuesday January 19 vs Hertford County
- Friday January 22 vs Edenton
- Tuesday January 26 @ Currituck
- Friday January 29 vs Pasquotank
- Tuesday February 2 @ Northeastern
- Friday February 5 @ Hertford County
- Tuesday February 9 @ Edenton
- Friday February 12 vs Northeastern
- Tuesday February 16 @ Pasquotank
- Thursday February 18 vs Currituck
