Time to put away the footballs
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The 2009/10 basketball season is officially full throttle now that football has wrapped up. As was the case with football, the new re-alignment will require a little feeling out period. The true barometer test begins in earnest as teams get accustomed to practicing with their full roster participating, and while it may be early January before the contenders pull away from the pretenders there will no doubt be a handful of teams that will make a serious run at a state title. 
The Brookhaven Cougars will be looking for their sixth straight AA title this season but their biggest challenge will be replacing Blaine Roberts, Jeremy Foster and Josh Winborne. Despite those losses the Cougars will put a frontcourt duo of Jake Reed (photo right) and Sidney Chaffin on the court that will cause matchup problems for most teams and point guard Jamison Powell is back for his senior season. Regardless of what Brookhaven does in December and January, the Cougars under the guidance of head coach Dale Watts, have owned February the past five seasons.
The question as to who will challenge Brookhaven this season is easily answered. The four most notable contenders are Bowling Green, Hillcrest, Marshall and Columbia. Simple as that, right? Don’t think so…..questions arise about a handful of other teams that could go unanswered for some time. Who will be the sleeper team……..West Memphis, Indianola, Leake, Simpson, Canton?
Many think Bowling Green has the most talent this season with the core of the 2008/
09 team that won south state returning along with a handful of new players. The Buccaneers have advanced to the semi-finals the past two seasons only to fall short of playing in the title game. Bowling Green has arguably the best player in the MAIS in senior Jaron Edwards (photo left) and if that team gels quickly they’ll be a handful for any squad. Head coach Pat King is in his third season as boys head coach and has a record of 68-10.
The Hillcrest Cougars made the move to AA this season and will be right in the middle of the championship race. While Hillcrest did lose their two big men from last season they will no doubt be in contention in 2009/10. Senior Austin Hartzog has been lighting up opposing teams this year and the 6’3” Ole Miss signee (baseball) has proven to be one of the better all around athletes in the MAIS. James Crain is in his fifth year as head coach and has an overall record of 732-250.
The Columbia Cougars have started out the season at 8-1 and have added a big man to compliment the play of point guard Tanner Pace (photo right). Christian Robbins is a new addition to the team at Columbia and the 6’10” junior will provide a great inside-out game for the Cougars this season. Coach Reid McCay is in his seventh season at Columbia and has an overall mark of 187-95.
The team in the north that could challenge Hillcrest is the Mars
hall Patriots. The squad from Holly Springs returns all five starters plus their sixth man from last season’s group that nearly eliminated Bowling Green in the state tournament in Brookhaven. The Patriots will be led by 6’2” forward Jake Omedeo, senior guard Caleb Byrd (photo left) and junior Taylor Maurey. Coach Craig Dailey is in his fifth year at Marshall and has an overall record of 375-178.
Now the battle begins for the right to play for a AA championship at Indianola in late February.
The Brookhaven Cougars will be looking for their sixth straight AA title this season but their biggest challenge will be replacing Blaine Roberts, Jeremy Foster and Josh Winborne. Despite those losses the Cougars will put a frontcourt duo of Jake Reed (photo right) and Sidney Chaffin on the court that will cause matchup problems for most teams and point guard Jamison Powell is back for his senior season. Regardless of what Brookhaven does in December and January, the Cougars under the guidance of head coach Dale Watts, have owned February the past five seasons.
The question as to who will challenge Brookhaven this season is easily answered. The four most notable contenders are Bowling Green, Hillcrest, Marshall and Columbia. Simple as that, right? Don’t think so…..questions arise about a handful of other teams that could go unanswered for some time. Who will be the sleeper team……..West Memphis, Indianola, Leake, Simpson, Canton?
Many think Bowling Green has the most talent this season with the core of the 2008/
09 team that won south state returning along with a handful of new players. The Buccaneers have advanced to the semi-finals the past two seasons only to fall short of playing in the title game. Bowling Green has arguably the best player in the MAIS in senior Jaron Edwards (photo left) and if that team gels quickly they’ll be a handful for any squad. Head coach Pat King is in his third season as boys head coach and has a record of 68-10.The Hillcrest Cougars made the move to AA this season and will be right in the middle of the championship race. While Hillcrest did lose their two big men from last season they will no doubt be in contention in 2009/10. Senior Austin Hartzog has been lighting up opposing teams this year and the 6’3” Ole Miss signee (baseball) has proven to be one of the better all around athletes in the MAIS. James Crain is in his fifth year as head coach and has an overall record of 732-250.
The Columbia Cougars have started out the season at 8-1 and have added a big man to compliment the play of point guard Tanner Pace (photo right). Christian Robbins is a new addition to the team at Columbia and the 6’10” junior will provide a great inside-out game for the Cougars this season. Coach Reid McCay is in his seventh season at Columbia and has an overall mark of 187-95.
The team in the north that could challenge Hillcrest is the Mars
hall Patriots. The squad from Holly Springs returns all five starters plus their sixth man from last season’s group that nearly eliminated Bowling Green in the state tournament in Brookhaven. The Patriots will be led by 6’2” forward Jake Omedeo, senior guard Caleb Byrd (photo left) and junior Taylor Maurey. Coach Craig Dailey is in his fifth year at Marshall and has an overall record of 375-178.Now the battle begins for the right to play for a AA championship at Indianola in late February.
