WEST PALM BEACH – Forest Hill has been great at using whatever it has available.
This season has been about giving the younger and less experienced players an opportunity to showcase their talents on the field. And after five games played, this formula has led the Falcons to a 3-2 record and a chance to qualify for next month’s FHSAA Class 8A playoffs.
Leading the program right now is Forest Hill first-year head coach Jim Basford, who has been around the program several years prior as an assistant coach. He is a young head coach who knows the Forest Hill way of success through and through.
Perhaps no game encapsulates this more than last Thursday night’s (Sept. 30) home game against Lake Worth.
Down some key players, our Coach of Week 6 found a way to lead the Falcons to an easy 56-12 win over the Trojans (0-4). At least two players had big games for the home team – senior running back/MVP of Week 6 Melvin Hubbard (five carries, 131 yards, three touchdowns) and junior running back Jerrius Chavers (100+ total yards, one touchdown).
“It was an important win to the team,” Basford said. “The win puts us 2-0 in the district. We are looking to keep this momentum going into another tough part of our schedule.”
Forest Hill is in District 8-8A with Lake Worth, John I. Leonard, Park Vista, and Santaluces. Basford and his team would love nothing more than to actually win it with a 4-0 district record.
“That is our goal this year,” Basford said. “But we can’t overlook Centennial this week. They are very talented on both sides of the ball.”
Forest Hill assistant coach Dwayne McClendon spoke on Basford’s growth as a head coach.
“He’s an awesome guy and coach of course,” McClendon said. “He’s very similar to Coach [Jude] Bless [Blessington], who he studied under. He is very detailed and organized. He goes out of his way for our boys…He listens to his coaches and will be one of the best young coaches in this area.”
Forest Hill senior captain Dmitry Peters shared his thoughts on Basford.
“He’s a very respected man,” Peters said. “I’ll give my life for him stepping in as the head coach. In his first year, he’s doing absolutely amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better head coach in my corner. He gives his all to us and we do the same.”
The next 15 days will ultimately determine Forest Hill’s season. After tomorrow night’s (Oct. 8) game at Centennial (3-3), Forest Hill has a potential de facto district title game in Week 8 at Park Vista (5-0) and the district finale in Week 9 at Santaluces (0-5).
“I think we will be able to tell in these next couple of weeks,” Basford said. “We are still trying to put it all together. I don’t think we have played a complete game yet, but we are close. I’m excited to see how my guys handle these next opponents when they get hit in the mouth.”
