Second year Ashville varsity boys basketball coach Anthony Rice is confident about this year team. “Our goal at Ashville is always to get our kids to the regionals in Jacksonville and then to the final four. I don’t believe in setting our goals low. I believe in setting your goals to go undefeated every year,” Rice said. With three returning starters like seniors Barry Woods, Chase Seals and junior Xavier Newton, why not be confident?

Rice said Woods is the guy that makes the Bulldogs go. “He’s a very good athlete and we’re going to lean heavily on him this year. He can score, handle the ball and defend. Varsity team mainstay Newton has started since ninth grade. His experience and physicality make him, “probably one of the better players in the county as far as being an all-around player,” Rice said. Seals is a starting linebacker on the football team and brings that same toughness to the defensive end of the floor and under the basket. “He does everything you ask of him,” Rice said.

Cortney Williams is a sophomore and a new starter for the Bulldogs. Rice mentioned that Williams was probably a bit nervous in his first game but stressed his importance as the team’s point guard. “He’s got the ability and he’ll be a guy that will help us win running the offense.” Alex Farmer, a junior, is a starter this year after not playing much last year. Rice said he has grown a lot and should help on the boards. Travis Ambrosius is the sixth man of the squad who brings that instant offense coaches love off the bench. “He shoots the three extremely well,” Rice said. “That’s his thing.”

Ashville will look to get more people involved this year as they find their identity as a team. “I want this program to be special, something that the community and the players can be proud of,” Rice said. “I believe we’re going in the right direction. If we keep working and get this football out of us, we’ll be successful the rest of the year and on through the years. In the end we’ll be successful because we have good kids.”