The Kosciusko boys and girls’ basketball teams completed summer programs and both coaches are pleased with what they saw.
“They showed vast improvement in the last two weeks,” boys’ coach Eleazarus Greenleaf said of his team. The Whippets played about 20 games.
Girls Coach Cory Guyton said, “We had a lot of good things happening this summer. I’ve seen a lot from a lot of different people.”
The teams will approach the 2021-22 season from different perspectives. The boys had a strong 2020-21 season, winning the Region 4-4A regular season title and reaching the second round of the playoffs. But the graduation of four starters eliminated much of the fire power.
The girls failed to make the playoffs but return everyone, including six players who will be seniors.
Davion Roby is the lone returning starter and Keonte Williams the only other returning player for the boys who saw significant court time for the Whippets. Greenleaf is counting on other players to step up, including Khameron Harvey, Jeremy Whitcomb, Jerrell Erving, Derrick Manning, Vinterrious Hunt and Dre Riley.
“We won’t be as big, so we will have to use our speed and athleticism. And we have to play tenacious on defense,” Greenleaf said.
The six seniors for the Lady Whippets are Mariah Woods, Bracie Jamison, Aaliyah Amey, Jakayla Seawood, Ariel Fleming and Hannah Olive.
“All six of my seniors are my captains,” Guyton said. “I look for them to definitely be our leaders. We will go as they go. They have been with us since I got here. They were freshman when I came to Kosciusko. They are starting to see the fruits of their labor, to believe in themselves, and to believe in the program. I expect some big things out of them.”
A couple of younger players who should see increased court time are Jamyia Gray, who will be a junior, and sophomore Haley Olive.
The Lady Whippets played about 30 games against teams from all MHSAA classifications, 1A to 6A, during the summer and won most.
“We played some very competitive teams,” Guyton said. “We made a conscious effort to focus on defense. We will extend that focus when we go back to school and add a little offense.”
Kosciusko will again compete in 4-4A against the same five opponents – Choctaw Central, Leake Central, Louisville, Northeast Lauderdale and West Lauderdale.
