Prep Hoops: Gallatin County looks to be contenders in tough GEC

Like most coaches, Gallatin County's Doug Miller isn't much different when it comes to day-by-day goals.

"Our goal is to get better every single day." Miller said.

That might be the case when you go .500 and graduate four players and lose about 20 points per game.

But when you return 5-foot-10 junior guard Seth Ramsey, who averaged 19.9 points per game last year, things all of a sudden start looking up for you.

"Seth is as talented of a basketball player as they come," Miller said. "But, you're also looking at more than that, you're looking at a guy that leads the team. He's my voice on the floor. Several times he's said something to a kid before I could get it out. He knows the game, he's got great work ethic and he studies the game and can talk basketball with me throughout the whole year. He's got a heart of gold, treats the freshman with respect, there's no hazing going on, he's just teaching and building friendships. He's a special kid."

Pat Clark, a 6-0 senior forward, who averaged 4.5 points per game a year ago is the other returnee, along side Ramsey, for a Gallatin County team that went 18-18 a year ago.

Miller calls his 2015-16 bunch young and inexperienced.

"I like my kids a lot, their effort level is great, but we're going to learn every day. We're working very hard in practice and we've got some very young kids that might play a lot of varsity time."

The youth and inexperience are the biggest negatives surrounding the Hawks right now. Miller added that they need to learn the game and learn it fast as they tipped off the season at the Grayville Invitational this week.

"The pros are we are finally getting the juniors and seniors helping the freshman and sophomores out more and more." Miller said. "They're telling them in a nice kind voice 'get off that baseline - you're going to get yelled at'. They're giving constructive criticism, and they're being leaders on and off the floor. We're having guys with grade issues, discipline trouble in the classroom - our leaders on the team are telling them they can't do that and be a basketball player."

Size will also be a concern for Gallatin County as senior center Brody Watts and a pair of freshmen are the tallest at 6-foot-2.

"We have a huge size disadvantage," Miller said. "Almost every game we're going to play this year we are going to be little. If we don't contest shots and box out and then go get the rebound, we aren't going to win very many games and that's going to be our greatest battle of the year."

The Greater Egyptian Conference race should be an exciting one this year according to Miller. While he would like to be in the thick of things, he also tips his cap to Crab Orchard, Hardin County and Norris City-Omaha-Enfield, three teams he expects to vie for the crown.

"Crab Orchard has two very good all conference players back. You've got Hardin County who won the regional last year and they've got a lot of their kids back. Then they've got a couple kids who didn't play last year that are like 6-4 and 6-5 that are coming out and playing. They're going to be very good. Then Norris City who has Sutton and Long, who may be the two of the best players in the conference."

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshoote