The Cullman Times
November 9, 2007
By Brandon Shields

ST. BERNARD BOYS BASKETBALL

Let the Reid era begin at St. Bernard

If St. Bernard is looking for youth to lead its boys basketball program, then the Saints got it as 20-year-old Cody Reid is taking over the Saints.

Reid spent the past two seasons helping Mitch Morris coach the boys basketball team at Holly Pond, and now he is ready to get started with a team of his own at St. Bernard.

Reid said there is plenty of differences between the Broncos' and Saints' programs.

"When I was helping at Holly Pond, I was mainly refreshing the players' memories with fundamentals," Reid said.  "This year at St. Bernard, there is a little more instruction, and they are wanting to learn so that makes it easier."

Reid inherits a team with three returning players that saw significant playing time a year ago.

"Nick Kelley and Preston Fuchs are two guys down low we will be depending a lot on early," Reid said.  "Then Luke Wasilewski will be our point guard, but he will be sitting out the first few weeks after breaking his collar bone while playing with the football team."

Reid said he plans on building the team around the three veterans with an offense that is similar to those he played in and coached at Holly Pond.

"I took something from all three coaches that I've worked with - Mitch Morris, Scott Adams and Chuck Gambrill - and developed my own system that has aspects of the other three," Reid said.  "And then I've added a few extra wrinkles in with it.

"The good thing about our offense is we can build it around the post players if we need to or around the guards.  It's a very versatile offense."

Reid said he still had to learn a lot about the competition he will be coaching against at the Class 1A level.

"The only team I've ever really seen in our area is Speake," Reid said.  "And I know St. Bernard split with last year.

"I think we have the ability to compete and an opportunity to succeed in area play and host that area tournament in February.  They guys are adjusting quickly to my coaching, and we'll see how well it will all work together in the next few weeks."

St. Bernard opens play next Friday at home against Mt. Hope, as it will try to improve on last year's performance that saw the Saints tie for the regular season area championship before finishing second in the tournament and falling in subregionals at Sulligent.