Bulldogs want to fly higher in Kilby's 2nd year

Gil Pound, The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Ga.
·3 min read

Nov. 22—Year two of the Bo Kilby era officially began over the weekend as the GMC Prep boys basketball team hosted ACE Charter to tip off the 2022-23 season.

The Bulldogs (1-0) won their opener Friday, defeating the Gryphons of Macon 64-29 to get their campaign started on the right foot.

Kilby's first year saw the 'Dogs finish 13-15 overall with a first-round playoff exit at Manchester. It was a good learning experience for the head coach as it was his first time leading a program.

"I learned a lot of things, including patience," Kilby said. "The biggest takeaway was getting to know the guys a little bit better. I feel like we're more of a team this year than how we ended last year. I think that just comes with time and experience."

The GMC boys get a good core back with three out of five starters returning. Seniors Javian Lango and Davis Duke along with junior Isaiah Womble were good for a combined 43 points per night a season ago. The trio provides a good mix of inside-outside attacking possibilities on offense. Womble will hold down the center role with his nine rebounds per game average while both Lango and Duke can go strong to the bucket or shoot from the perimeter. Lango was the team's top scoring threat averaging 18 points and earned the program's lone First Team All-Region honor his junior year while Duke and Womble were second-teamers.

"I wouldn't call him our point guard, but we want him to get the offense going," Kilby said of Lango. "He pushes the ball well and has awesome court vision. I expect really good things from Jay this year. He's an all-around good basketball player."

That core is a good foundation to build on, but the Bulldogs have two starting roles to fill, the biggest being that of former floor general Alex French V. Though the team's overall playing experience will be less, Kilby said he feels as though he can go a little deeper on his bench this season than he did last.

With a couple of guys fresh from the football field and JROTC Raider course, GMC has a few weeks to get into basketball shape before region play begins Jan. 6 at Glascock. The region is slightly different this year with Warren County and Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics (GSIC) out while Johnson County has moved in. Looming large are the programs in Irwinton and Sparta against whom the Bulldogs went 0-4 a year ago.

"Hancock and Wilco are both perennial good teams," Kilby said. "It's fun to play teams like that to see where we stand. We get to go ahead and do that in region play rather than having to wait. Those are the teams we want to be able to compete against, especially at the end of the season."

GMC Prep finished fourth in the region last year. The Bulldogs will aim at least that high again so they can get back into the state playoffs.

Kilby's 'Dogs return to the floor Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Gatewood of Eatonton. After a couple more road contests, the neighboring Gators will visit Cordell for a 7:30 p.m. tip Friday, Dec. 9.