For Man, one team is looking to get back to the top of the mountain while one has achieved victory just for getting onto the court.
The Man Lady Hillbillies are taking the floor for the first time since the 2019-2020 season, and while most of the players on the team have are playing their first season of high school basketball, those associated with the program are buzzing with excitement.
KEY PLAYERS – Kami Anderson is a senior guard will be heavily relied on. The offense will run through her much of the time. Tori Honaker is a scrappy senior forward who plays with a lot of heart. Twins Jenna and Jace Baisden will be key contributors Jenna is more of a post player while Jace is more of a shooter. Both will be expected to hit the boards hard. Freshman Braylee Thompson shows a lot of promise and has a bright future ahead of her.
FINAL THOUGHTS – As of this writing, Man doesn’t have an official head coach yet. The Lady Hillbillies have achieved a tremendous victory putting a team back onto the floor. The focus this season will be working on team chemistry and improving. The wins will eventually come.
For boys head coach TJ Blevins, the Hillbillies have turned into a powerhouse in Class A. However, this season will feature some fresh faces for Man.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS – Colton Miller is the lone senior returner on the Hillbillies’ roster. He will be joined by first year senior Chris Isaacs, who will provide some size. Freshman Trey Ward has all of the tools to be a very good player and should see a lot of time. Another freshman Devon Sanders has a non-stop motor and should give the Hillbillies a spark. Chastin Stacy will be expected to knock down shots. Cameron Gerace is talented and is expected to contribute.
KEY LOSSES – Man lost first team all-state player Caleb Blevins and second team all-stater Jermiah Harless. Trey Brown and Aden Martin also graduated, taking away a lot of experience.
FINAL THOUGHTS – Man is young but talented. There will be some growing pains this season but Coach Blevins has fostered a culture of winning at Man. Look for the Hillbillies to grow and be a tough opponent for anyone in their class by season’s end.
