Colder weather is finally upon us and so is the beginning of a new high school basketball season.

Both the Hornets and the Lady Hornets have begun the season with new head coaches standing courtside with Robin Jeffries and Run Bowen taking over the basketball programs at Poplarville High School, there are high expectations at a chance for the teams to make it to the playoffs. Combined, both coaches bring over 30 years of coaching experience to the table.  The boys and girls program lost key players from last year’s team, so while most teams would look at this season as a rebuilding year, that’s not how Jeffries or Bowen see it.

Despite only working with the kids for a short amount of time, both coaches have set high standards for the team and the kids are working hard to reach those goals by the end of the season.

Meanwhile in Picayune, the Maroon Tide lost key players from last year’s playoff team, but second-year Head Coach Kelton Thompson will look to keep the momentum up and achieve another successful season.

Thompson said the team will struggle with some games at times, but at the end of the day, it will help everyone improve upon their skills. Picayune’s girls basketball team reached the state playoffs last year and will look to have the same success this year.

Last season, both Pearl River Central High School teams came up short of the state tournament, and as a result will work to change their fortune this year.

With the season in its early stages, I’m excited to see the brand of basketball that will be played by both the Hornets and the Lady Hornets. When it comes to Picayune and PRC, I’ll be on the lookout for the senior players and see how they become better leaders on and off the court.