Isaac Middlebrooks takes over for the Batesville Pioneers after they finished 5-25 a season ago . Coach Middlebrooks is hoping a clean state and change of voice can help the Pioneers compete in the always tough 5A East conference . So far , Coach Middlebrooks is optimistic , “ From what I have seen in my first few months as the coach is that we have some good basketball players . We are working on developing our basketball IQ right now and fixing a lot of habits that do not help us be successful . We have a great group of kids that are working hard right now .” Batesville will have a mixture of returning players with experience , some young talented players , and others looking to expand their roles . Seniors Shane Dunlap and Braxton Davis along with junior Rafael Thomas are leading the way in what they hope will be a new successful era in Pioneer basketball . As of now , Coach Middlebrooks and the Pioneers are looking for the formula that allows them to succeed inside a tough conference . “ In our league we cannot “ athlete ” with other teams like Marion and Nettleton so we have to find ways to negate their athletic ability and make them play our style of play ,” Middlebrooks said . “ There are teams across the state with the same type of player and athlete we have that are successful every year . Our goal is to become one of those teams .” Look for improvement out of Batesville this season .
The Batesville Lady Pioneers have been very successful over the last ten years , but endured an 8-20 record last season . Coach Stan Fowler hopes to rely on a young but talented team to get them back to the postseason this year . Senior Hadley Cunningham returns at guard for the Lady Pioneers . Cunningham is a good shooter and ball handler and will be the leader for a young team . Junior Kayley Montgomery is hoping to expand her role and make an impact inside for Batesville while a large group of talented newcomers are hoping to contribute and add depth . Sophomores Maggie Price , Serenity Patterson , Melania Hendrix , and Rachel Mills will all move up looking for an immediate impact . Patterson and Hendrix will join Montgomery in the post , while Price and Mills will be at guard spots . Freshman Brilley Pulliam also moves up to stretch the defense with her shooting ability . Coach Fowler knows the challenges ahead in the 5A East , but likes his team . “ We are very small as a team ,” Coach Fowler said . “ We are very young , but they work hard and love to run .” Batesville hopes to combat their lack of size with quickness and a faster pace . Coach Fowler hopes his young ones gain key experience early in the season to prepare them for a gauntlet of a conference schedule . Look to see improvement in Batesville , and for the Lady Pioneers to be in the hunt for a state tournament berth .
There is a new face leading the Redskins at Pocahontas High School . Michael Slater takes over after former coach Anthony Brewington moved in the athletic director ’ s position . Coach Slater inherits a rather inexperienced group , but loves his team ’ s work ethic and feels they can make some noise once the football guys get their legs under them . All five starters graduated from a year ago , as did most of the production . Point guard DJ Coffey leads an inexperienced group . Coffey brings leadership and a high motor to a tough hard-nosed roster . Senior Jaron Lindquist will also be a leader alongside Coffey , bringing a desire to motivate and win . Guard Tid Kios has great ball handling ability and court awareness , while junior guard Nate Major can stretch the defense with his shooting ability . Payne Swann gives the Redskins a post presence with a soft touch around the rim . Coach Slater believes others will make an impact once they come over after football season . Slater believes for his team to succeed , they will have to control the game with defense and good decision making . That can prove tough in the 4A-3 . It will be a rebuilding campaign for Pokie . NEA Sports predicts that the Redskins will miss making the regional tournament .
The Pocahontas Lady Redskins are looking for improvement from the 2022-2023 season and will do so with a very experienced group . Coach Ali Brooks is heading into her second year as coach of the Lady Skins and with five returning starters and ten total players with experience , Coach Brooks and company are hoping to make a little noise in the 4A-3 this season . Five seniors and five juniors make up the roster for Pocahontas , with all ten having some experience from last year . Four of those seniors return as starters for the Lady Redskins . Jordyn Priest , Paige Massey , Abby Alpin , and Lauren Berger are all two-year starters returning , while junior guard Abby Liebhaber returns after starting her sophomore year . Junior post player Blair Baxley and junior guard Lauren Chester look to provide depth off the bench after seeing playing time a season ago . While size is a concern for Coach Brooks , Pocahontas is hoping to combat with speed and quickness especially on the defensive end . The Lady Skins will play fast and aggressive offensively looking to attack the rim off the dribble . Coach Brooks hopes their quickness can create turnovers on the defensive end , leading to easy scoring opportunities . With a veteran squad , look for the Pocahontas Lady Redskins to show improvement from last season and be in the hunt for one of the regional tournament spots come February .