By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

The Callaway Cavaliers won’t be easing into their basketball season in the least.

New head coach Greg Moultrie and the team will head to defending Region 5-AA champion Manchester today for the Cavaliers’ season opener.

The Lady Cavaliers and their new coach in Michael Fannin will also open their season today against the Blue Devils.

The Cavaliers will then go to Lamar County for another region showdown Friday before facing LaGrange in Hogansville Saturday night.

To top it all off, Callaway will host Spencer Dec. 15 in its third region game of the young season.

It’s not an easy start for Moultrie’s first season, but the Cavaliers’ athleticism and experience should give them a chance in every game.

Led by senior Quantavius Leslie, Callaway is hoping to build upon last year’s region runner-up finish to Manchester.

“We’re a very athletic team,” Moultrie said. “We’re an up-tempo team, and they can run. Now we’re just trying to get them out of football shape and back into basketball shape.”

With three region contests in the Cavaliers’ first four games, it’s going to be a tough and important opening slate for the boys and girls.

The Cavaliers have been waiting and eager to play since their second round, double-overtime playoff loss to Dade County last season.

“We want to play. We’re ready to play,” Moultrie said. “The time we had off was well-utilized.”

Added Fannin: “(Manchester) is going to be a tough match-up. But it gives us an opportunity to test our team and see what we need to work on.”

The LaGrange High hoops teams also face a tough challenge tonight with a road game at Class AAAA power Lithia Springs.

For 20 or 30 seconds at a time, so you have to get them in shape and ready to go.”

Another factor in the early success is Moultrie’s coaching philosophies, which the players are becoming more comfortable with in each practice.

Execution is the primary ingredient in Moultrie’s system.

Moultire emphasizes slowing the speed of the game and “giving up a good shot for a better shot.”

While the team was still adjusting to it heading into Tuesday’s game, Callaway players quickly learned Moultrie knows what he’s talking about.

“The game helped them out with recognizing play calling and execution and the actual game speed,” Moultrie said. “Once they got in the game and saw the philosophies executed, they bought into it.”

For Smedley, who is one of the team’s captains, the players are buying in to what Moultrie is selling.

“He’s trying to teach us to slow it down more, and not be so fast-paced like how we used to and learning more about the game,” said Smedley, who had eight points. “We’ve responded because we’re seeing the results of it.”

With another region road game at Lamar County on Friday followed by a rivalry showdown with LaGrange Satuday in Hogansville, the Cavaliers can’t be too content with the big Manchester win.

A region title is certainly in the cards, but the team is taking it one game at a time.

“We’re taking it one game at a time and moving toward a region championship,” Smedley said.

Added Jackson, who had 14 points in the Manchester win: “We’re trying to win state, too.”