Coach Rickey McCullough’s Bearcats and coach Kelvin Cochran’s Lady Cats are scheduled to open the 2012-2013 Bainbridge High School basketball season Friday, Nov. 30, in Moultrie, Ga., against Colquitt County.

Leading the Bearcats’ returnees is senior guard Dontavius Marshall, a second team All-Region 1-AAAA selection as a junior. He led the team in three-point shooting a season ago, making 63 three-pointers, for a 39-percent average. He also led the team in free-throw shooting with a 74-percent average.

Also back are guard B.J. Cheatem, guard Justin Baker, forward Tim Shaw and forward Jamez Harris.

The Lady Cats are very young this season. Small forward Carenshia Kennedy is the team’s only senior.

Cochran will be starting four sophomores and a junior. The sophomores are point guard Beonka Madge, shooting guard Alex Carter, shooting guard Tameria Levens and center Patra Parris. The junior is Teena Jeffery.

“All of our Bearcats players are working hard in practice,” McCullough said. “B.J. Cheatem, Justin Baker, Tim Shaw and Jamez Harris are rounding into shape after coming over this week from the football team.”

Cochran also likes the work ethic of his team.

“Our players are young but they are really hustling and getting after it in practice,” he said.