The Blue Devils and Lady Blue Devils basketball teams open their seasons this Friday against the Northside Patriots.
These matchups will be the first against the Patriots since the cross-town rival school made the jump to the 6A Division in 2020.
Both teams have undergone changes since last year.
The boys are entering the season with their new Head Coach, Karl Ivey at the helm. Ivey had previously served as one of the assistant coaches.
Gideon Amissah (12) has stepped up as one of the team’s leaders in his years at Columbus High. He describes how the new Head Coach has changed the culture on the court, “With his coaching, we play higher paced, more physical, with a new perspective of the game.”
As for the girls, the starting 5 will look different this season, as The Lady Blue Devils bid farewell to three seniors last season.
“We lost some important players,” explains Summer Saunders (12), “so we’re in the process of rebuilding our team.”
Their season openers will be played at Columbus High, and the teams hope to use this to their advantage.
“We’ve been given all the resources,” explains Amissah, “but it’s up to us to pass the test.”
Play begins with the JV game at 4:30, followed by the girls at 6:00, and the boys at 7:30.
The teams encourage fans to wear white in support of their Blue Devils, “We will need a deep home crowd. Any support is appreciated. Be ready Friday night in the Devils’ Den!”