Cumberland Athletics opened the 2019-20 basketball season on Saturday as they traveled to a neutral site in Louisville to face the Columbus Hawks from Indiana. The Blazers entered the new season with a new conference, a new league, and a mostly new crew. Senior Ben Pruette, juniors Evan Fields and Shane Jung, and eighth grader Caleb Dyer are the returners for the Blazers this season while the rest of the crew of 10 are new to the team this season or coming back from at least one season off the court.

In addition to the roster turnover, Pruette and senior Max Sizemore were both on the injury list for the opening game. “Having two upper classmen who are good ball handlers and offensive threats on the bench due to injuries is a tough hurdle to overcome, especially with our mostly new roster this season,” said Blazers head coach Justin Hensley, who is entering his fifth season at the helm of the program. “We knew coming into the game that it would be a good test for our newer and younger guys and provide a scenario that we’re sure to see in the upcoming season when some of our guys get into foul trouble.”

The Hawks didn’t hold back after gaining possession off the opening tip and scoring the first basket. With the score 6-0 and just 45 seconds off the clock in the first quarter, the previous season’s second highest scorer S. Jung exited the game with a minor concussion and returned only briefly in the second half. With a reduction in offensive power and difficulties breaking the full court press, Cumberland found themselves down 43-6 at the end of the first period. Unable to recover, the Blazers would go on to lose 99-23 to the Hawks.

New to the roster this season, Sophomore Logan Helton led the Blazers with 11 points, with S. Jung chipping in 7 with limited minutes and sophomore Corey Hill adding 5. Hayden Stamper led the Hawks with 21.

Cumberland (0-1,0-1) heads back to the road Friday (11/15) to visit the Wellspring Guardians in Richmond for a Ohio River Homeschool Conference matchup that tips at 7pm.

Cumberland Homeschool Athletic Teams, Inc is a 501c3 nonprofit organization designed to provide opportunities for K-12 student athletes to participate in competitive athletics principally in the Cumberland Valley region of Southeast Kentucky.