First-year BHS coach Bonner, Bulldogs ready to hit court for 2024-25 season

The Belgreen High School varsity boys’ basketball team is itching to hit the hardwood after a first offseason under new head coach Will Bonner, who was hired to replace Marty Cooper in June. Even though the Bulldogs haven’t had an opportunity to run practice sessions with the entire roster present, Bonner said he is optimistic about what he’s seen from his team during its preseason preparation.

“We’re really looking forward to getting started,” he said. “There are some guys on the football team and they’re still playing, so we haven’t gotten to practice with everybody, but the guys who have been there to practice, they’ve been working really hard all offseason.

“You’re very limited with time in the offseason with other sports going on, but I think our guys have worked really hard, and I can’t wait for the football guys to get back,” he added.

The Bulldogs’ roster, which Bonner described as “still pretty young,” doesn’t have a ton of experience at the varsity level, but the first-year coach believes that a tight team bond and good chemistry between the players can go a long way in making up for that.

“I think these young guys who have grown up playing together, that can make a lot of difference,” Bonner said. “We have some transfers this year—we’ve got one transfer that just came in from Hatton—and we’ve got two seniors who haven’t played in the past, but I think they’re all pretty close. We’re a small school, so everyone knows each other pretty well. I think that’s one good thing for us that they’re all close and they’re all friends.

“That’s how I see us gelling together,” he added.

But it should be noted, too, that even with their youth or inexperience at the varsity level, the Bulldogs are not without returning playmakers. Belgreen has a few older hands whose performances will be crucial for BHS this campaign, according to Bonner.

“Braycen Johnson is a great player, and we expect him to hit his stride for us this year. He was great for us last year; he had a few games where he had 30-plus points, and we’re going to need a lot more of that out of him this year, too,” Bonner said. “Jonathan Mendoza is also an 11th grader, and he’s worked really hard this offseason. He helped us a lot last year.

“The two seniors that have been with us—which that’s Hunter Woodruff and Landon Cox—they’re gonna have to play an extreme amount of minutes this year because they’re very experienced, they know what we want out of them,” he added. “I haven’t gotten to see them much because they’re both playing football, but I’m excited to get them back and see how we get the season going when we have everyone together.”

Once the whole gang is united, Bonner feels Belgreen’s style of play will also serve to the Bulldogs’ advantage, as well. Belgreen intends to push it up and down the court and play at a high-tempo, which should make for entertaining basketball for fans and, hopefully, give the Bulldogs an edge.

“We’re going to play fast and really get after you on the defensive end. We did that in the summer, and it really seemed to work out for us,” Bonner said. “I think that’s just me putting them in the best position to be successful at the end of the day. They like to play fast and they play hard, so fast-paced basketball is going to be a big thing for us.”

Bonner, a BHS alumnus from the class of 2022 and a three-time Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State basketball selection with the Bulldogs, believes this Belgreen squad has the potential to win some hardware this season. Belgreen was crowned the Class 1A Area 14 champion in the 2023-24 campaign; one of Bonner’s goals for this year’s team is to repeat that feat, this time in Class 2A Area 14, which includes Tharptown and Covenant Christian.

“I think we have the talent to win the area, I really do,” Bonner said. “I know Covenant has lost a lot (of players)...but we won’t really be able to tell until we actually play them. We did get a look at Tharptown this summer, and we played really well against them, so I’m hoping we can continue that.

“I’m really anxious to see how we play against (Covenant Christian) because in the past they’ve been very, very good and our guys know that. We’re gonna have to be really well prepared for those area games so that we have a chance to host the subregion game,” Bonner added. “Covenant could be down this year compared to what they have been in the past, and Tharptown lost eight seniors last year, so there’s a very good chance for us to win the area.”

Setting his sights on an even higher prize, Bonner doesn’t want to rule out a trip to Hanceville late in the year, either.

“After (area) we have a tough cross-region with Red Bay and Sulligent, but when you play at home there’s a lot of things that can happen,” Bonner said. “If we prepare well for a subregion game, there’s a chance you may go to Wallace (State Community College, host of the Northwest Regional). I know we’re 2A and this is a new thing for us. We’ve made it to Wallace in the past at 1A, and I know 2A is a different level, but if we prepare and focus every day, there’s good sights for this team.”

Belgreen tips off the season at home against Smithville on Tuesday, November 12th.