Basketball: Boy and Girl Bobcats Led By Former State Champions

Both boys and girls basketball teams in Brydstown are led by former Pickett County boys basketball players that won state championships and members of the 1,000 point club in their respective senior seasons and careers.

Brent Smith was a key contributor of the 1990 state championship team at Pickett County that had an overall record of 28-8.

His Lady Bobcats return four starters with only one senior within the returning four.

“We are young still,” Smith said. “We two freshmen but they are still really raw at this point. Our junior class is really where we are most talented. Of course we only have one senior and that’s my daughter. We have a lot of experience.”

The boys coach Joseph Ammonett helped lead the 1995 Pickett County Bobcats to a 35-3 overall record and state championship. When Ammonett finished his career at Pickett county he held nine school records and five state tournament records at the time.

Ammonett was the 1995 Mr. Basketball and Most Valuable Player in Tennessee Class A. After his prep career, Ammonett played for seasons at Wake Forrest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The Bobcats return two seniors to this years squad but the team is made up of predominately juniors and sophomores.

Seniors Luke and Marks Smith are both multi sport athletes for Pickett County. They both play football, basketball, and baseball.

“We should be much improved,” Ammonett said. “We have a lot of experience. I think you’ll see a big improvement for last year. Mark is one of the most athletic players in our conference. Luke comes back as a starter from last year and I am looking to those two for a lot of leadership this season.”