Cagers hard at work:Hoop squads going through spring practice

Warren County’s basketball squads have been busy recently, holding spring practice each day in the Charlie Dalton Gym. Above, boys head coach Doug Keil gathers his team during drills on Friday. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

While their season is still a few months away, the Pioneer and Lady Pioneer basketball squads are busy in the gym.

The members of next year’s varsity teams are participating in spring practice sessions each day, under the tutelage of head coaches Doug Keil and Ann Eades.

Spring practice began last week, with the teams working each afternoon at the Charlie Dalton Gym.

Coach Ann Eades’ Lady Pioneer squad went through a bit of a rebuilding year last season, but still came away with nine wins and will lose just one player to graduation heading into next season.

Eades and her staff of Franklin Fisher, J.B. Smith and John Green are hard at work each afternoon, using the TSSAA’s alotted spring practice time to lay the groundwork for next season’s squad.

Every starter from the 2001-2002 Lady Pioneer team returns, including cousins Leanne and Whitney Pelham, the squad’s top two scorers from a year ago.

Also among those returning this season are guards Katie Simpson and Leah Cunningham, as well as forwards Linsey Cornelius, Jasmine Ware, Laura Holland and Sallie Slatton. Joining the team from last year’s freshman squad are Brittany Brewer, Hannah Higgins and Vanessa Cornelius.

While the rest of the team works on the court, one of the most-anticipated performers on next year’s squad is still being kept off the hardwood.

Post player Tia Williams spends her afternoons working to rehabilitate the knee she injured midway through last season, but the rising junior is confident she’ll be ready to hit the court before next season’s practices begin.

On the boys’ side of the spectrum the Pioneers, who lost four seniors from last year’s 21-11 squad, still have an established corps of players who saw significant action last season. But Keil, who will begin his third season as head coach next year, noted there are several regular spots up for grabs.

Like the Lady Pioneers, the boys’ squad is working during spring practice to see which players gel together the best, which young players can contribute the most, and identify which weaknesses will need the most work heading into next season.

“We’re trying to find out who can compete at different positions,” Keil said Tuesday. “We’ve got a lot of different guys going for open spots, and we’re looking to see who’ll come out on top, and who’s most prepared to help us next year.”

Among his returning players, Keil noted Randal Harrell and Reese Bishop, two mainstays from the lineup a year ago, as well as Cody Hillis and Kyle Thompson — both of whom saw considerable playing time last season — are all adjusting favorably to their roles as the team’s leaders.

“They’re working hard, as usual,” he said. “They’re doing the job we expected they’d come out and do this spring, and we’re looking forward to their stepping into even bigger leadership roles through summer workouts.

“We’ve got a good group of young players, too, and we’re excited about what they’ll be bringing to the team this season, and looking to see who is ready to be counted on early in their careers.”

The Pioneers have a scrimmage with Upperman scheduled for 4:15 Thursday.