With the fall sports seasons winding to a close, the eyes of many local athletes, coaches, and fans turn to the hardwood as another high school basketball season is upon us.
The county girls and boys squads have been practicing and scrimmaging and fans can get their first opportunity to see their favorite teams in action when the annual Southern Hills Athletic Conference Basketball Previews take place on Nov. 13 and 20. As always, the teams will play two eight-minute quarters, simulating normal game conditions.
North Adams High School will play host to the SHAC Girls Preview on Friday, Nov. 13. The evening begins with Jacie Simon, newly-appointed head coach of the Manchester Lady Hounds, being thrown right into the fire with a 5 p.m. match up with the loaded Lynchburg Lady Mustangs. At 6 p.m., the Fayetteville Lady Rockets will battle the Eastern Lady Warriors, followed at 7 p.m. by Coach Vohn Hoop and his Peebles Lady Indians taking on the Whiteoak Lady Cats.
At 8 p.m., coach Jason Claytor brings his new-look West Union Lady Dragons to the court to face the Fairfield Lady Lions and the girls preview concluded at 9 p.m. when the host North Adams Lady Devils, led once again by Coach Rob Davis, tangle with the Ripley Lady Jays.
One week later, on Friday, Nov. 20, it will be the boys teams from the SHAC gathering at Manchester High School for their preview night. Kicking things off at 5 p.m. will be Coach Nathan Copas and his North Adams Green Devils battling the Eastern Warriors, followed by a 6 p.m. clash between the Fayetteville Rockets and the Ripley Blue Jays. The third game of the evening is at 7 p.m. and matches the Whiteoak Wildcats and the West Union Dragons, under the direction of new head coach Josh White.
At 8 p.m., the Fairfield Lions will face the Lynchburg Mystangs and the evening finishes up with the host Manchester Greyhounds and their new head coach Kyle Pertuset matching up with the two-time defending district champion Peebles Indians and head coach Josh Arey.