Gatewood basketball recently spent a few days attending a camp at the University of Georgia.
Last month, Gators head coach Don Keiser, a few staff members, and eight players made the short drive to Athens.
“It was a great experience, and we used the opportunity to improve,” Keiser told The Eatonton Messenger. “We were the smallest school at the camp and only took eight players. All the other teams had 12 to 18 players, and we played some tough competition, but we fared well. The camp gave us a chance to get better.”
Despite going 2-4 overall at the camp, Keiser felt his team played well and competed in all six games. The Gators’ lone poor showing came against Lambert, a Class 6A powerhouse GHSA team.
“We got blown out in the second half by Lambert but held our own in the first,” he said. “It was our only bad loss.”
Gatewood’s wins came over Monroe Area and Bleckley County. The Gators’ other three losses were close contests, decided by six points or less, against Athens Academy and two out-of-state teams.
Senior Kaiden Keiser and sophomore Matt Allen led the Gators in scoring throughout the tournament. The dynamic Gatewood guard duo played every minute at the camp.
“Matt and Kaiden played great for us at the camp. They never came off the court,” the Gators’ head coach said. “I am very thankful to have them. I think I will have the best-returning backcourt in the GIAA next year.”
Allen and Kaiden Keiser were Gatewood’s leading scorers last year. Allen, who has already scored more than 1,000 points in his first two years, averaged 34.8 points per game, and Keiser notched 13.8 points per contest last season. The coach highlighted that those two and the six other players who attended the camp got valuable playing time and experience.
Since Gatewood is a small school, many athletes play multiple sports. With the football season approaching, Keiser hasn’t gotten a full roster, but he is happy to have spent the summer seeing his team improve.
“We played two freshmen. They got an opportunity to grow up during those two days,” Keiser said. “It was great.”
Last year, Gatewood went 24-3 overall and won a district title. However, the Gators were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by rival Brentwood, a team they beat three times during the regular season.
Keiser believes his team could take the next step and win a state championship within the next two seasons. The Gators have come close the past few years, but Keiser said his players must keep working hard to get to that point.
“I think we’ll have a great season, with many key pieces from last season coming back,” he said. “We lost two great contributing seniors from last season to graduation but have a few good eighth graders coming up.”