After two successful seasons last year, both Newton basketball teams will be going through a youth movement this season.
Only one starter returns for the Lady Tigers, who won the Class 2A state championship last year while. They also have a new coach in Ty Harden.
The Tigers don’t have a starter back as Crandal Porter comes back to Newton to take over for Darrin Gray, who left for Lake.
Newton boys
The Tigers will go back to the future when former coach Crandal Porter takes the helm this season.
Porter takes over for coach Darrin Gray, who left Newton after going 24-8 last season and will be the new coach at Lake.
But Gray didn’t leave the cupboards bare in Newton. Porter said the Tigers will be young but talented as they enter the season.
“I think we are going to be really good,” Porter said. “We are young right now but I told them that nobody cares about that. Once we get our system I and get to where we can fully execute, I think we are going to be pretty good. Everybody keeps telling me that we are going to be pretty good in a year or two. I think we can be pretty good this year. It’s just a matter of the players buying into our system.”
The Tigers will will put a young team on the floor as junior Jaden Parker will start at point guard. At the shooting guard is 6-foot-2 sophomore Justin Thompson while 6-0 junior guard Cam Blaylock will be another guard. The Tigers have some length inside with 6-foot-5 sophomore forward Jabez Blaylock and 6-foot-6 freshman Kendrick Osby.
Also expected to see plenty of playing time is 6-foot-5 sophomore Ray Nettles, 6-foot-3 sophomore Kyzerrian Wash and 6-foot-3 junior forward Jaylan Barton. Porter said he also expect Caleb Traxer, Darius Thames, Melvin Smith, Jaleel Bolton and Isiah Johnson to see some playing time.
Newton will compete in Division 5-2A with Union, Philadelphia, Scott Central, and Lake.
“Newton has won the district six years in a row and we don’t want to be the team that doesn’t win it,” Porter said. “I don’t really know what anybody has coming back but Newton has always been a player in this district so I expect us to do the same thing this year. I’m just glad to be back and tickled to death to be here.”
Newton girls
The Lady Tigers will start the season with a new head coach as Ty Harden coming to Newton from Meridian.
The Lady Tigers only bring back one starter from last year’s Class 2A state championship team.
“Right now, we are suffering a lot of growing pains,” Harden said. “We are trying to find our identity and trying to go to a quicker-paced tempo. We have sped up that tempo and are working really hard. They have that winning mentality, it’s just a lot of growing pains right now. We are playing a tough schedule. We have looked good at times, we just have to be more consistent.”
Returning for the Lady Tigers is Ja’Leah Hickmon, a junior post player. She will be joined on the court by sophomores Zia Shields, Kania Arrington and Jashonaa Nicholson. Senior Korneshia Jones is back after missing her junior year with a knee injury. Coming off the bench has been freshman Jania McDonald and sophomore Issys Ickom while seniors Adoria McDaniel and Anastasia Brown are both out with injuries but are expected to be back in December and provide depth off the bench.
“We really need Hickmon to come out of her shell,” Harden said. “She was surrounded by some really good players last year and just feed off of them. We need her to be more of a leader. I’ve been really pleased with Zia, she has taken on more of that leadership role.”
Despite the losses from last year’s squad, Harden likes his chances once division play starts.
“Like I said, we are going through some growing pains but I think we will be fine once we get to district play,” Harden said. “I still feel confident about winning the district and still making it to Jackson.”
