LBWCC’s men’s and women’s basketball teams may have gotten off to a rough start, but Saints head coach Ricky Knight said both teams are gearing up to get ready for conference play in January.

The Saints’ men’s team already has played six games this season – five of which were on the road.

Right now, LBWCC sits at 1-5 on the season and has games at Shelton State in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, and then a game at Snead State in Boaz.

Knight said the men’s team is young. He’s right, because out of the 15 players on the squad, 10 are freshmen.

“We’re just trying to get more experience for our younger guys, and get more consistent,” the long-time Saints coach said. “We lost some real close games on the road.

“I think when conference time comes, we should be fine,” he said. “That’s when it counts for us in the conference. That’s how you go to state, by your record. That’ll start in January.”

Knight said the men’s team is getting better with each passing game. It’s just the defense that needs work.

“We play all man to man, but we’ve got some things to work on,” he said.

On the women’s side of things, the Lady Saints have nine freshmen out of 13 on the team.

Knight said the women, like the men, just need experience on the court.

“We’ve just got to learn how to play,” he said.

The Lady Saints sit at 0-5 on the season as of Tuesday night. LBWCC had a home game that night.

There are two local players on the team in Shi’Amber Townsend and Alectricia Barnes. Both led Andalusia to the state championship game during their senior season.

Other than defense, the women have to improve on scoring, Knight said.

“We’ve been on the road a lot,” he said. “It’s been hard on the road for the freshmen because it’s a whole nother game.

“Here, you play by a (30-second) shot clock,” he said. “There are bigger and stronger players.”

LBWCC will be back in action tonight at Shelton State. The women’s team tips off first, followed by the men’s.