The Westside Warriors added to their rich tradition by finishing 24-8 last season , winning the 4A-3 District Tournament and reaching the 4A State quarterfinals . Coach Mark Whitmire ’ s team will have to replace some key pieces to that team , but have some major firepower returning . All State guard Weston Honeycutt returns after leading the Warriors in scoring a year ago . The senior can score all over the floor in many different ways . Honeycutt was able to put up big numbers last season , even while garnering a lot of attention from opposing defenses . Sophomore Micha Dew enjoyed a lot of success as a freshman at the high school level . Dew is athletic , a good shooter , and a great scorer . Koby Thompson also returns a lot of experience at the guard spot . Thompson is a hard worker and all around solid player on both ends of the floor . Junior Landon Webb came off the bench in a big role last season but will need to expand on that role for Westside . Senior Drake Kelly is a skilled player that Coach Whitmire is looking for big things from , while Weston Smith has improved over the summer earning some playing time . Fellow juniors Saddler McCormick and Will Harp will also look to contribute and provide some depth and key minutes for the Warriors . Coach Whitmire knows what he needs from his guys . “ This year ' s team will have to rebound and play defense very well to overcome our size ,” he said . “ Leadership is another important factor to our success in this team . With what we lost , not only good players , but the level of leadership and defensive ability will cause us a problem . I ' m hoping that we can find some leaders to help out with this . If we can get these areas of concern corrected , I ' ll be looking for a good season for these young men .” The Westside Warriors can always shoot it well and always play extremely hard under Coach Whitmire . This year should be no different . Look for the Westside Warriors to battle in the smaller , but strong 4A-3 conference and battle for a regional berth in February .
The Westside Lady Warriors have a new coach as Brad Brannen comes over from Bay to lead the Lady Warrior program . Coach Brannen inherits a Westside team with returning experience from a 20-12 season where they earned a regional tournament berth . Senior Addi Montgomery earned some starts a year ago and will return to the point guard spot this season . Montgomery will run the Warrior offense and provide leadership for her team . Classmate Izzy Wolf will provide an inside presence , while Vada Watkins and Mattyx Cureton will provide an outside shooting threat for the Lady Warriors . Juniors Brylee Timms and Madison Jones should contribute on both ends of the floor . Timms will play at a guard spot , and Jones will play inside . Coach Brannen said a bunch of sophomores will also contribute . Coach also feels the success of this season relies on how fast everyone gels together . “ The key to our success will be our ability to swiftly adapt to a new style of play ,” he said . “ It is crucial that we close the gap between our top performers and those who are still developing their skills . Our overall success will largely depend on how quickly we can cultivate a strong belief in ourselves as a team , coupled with a sustained work ethic that aligns with our goals and aspirations .” Coach Brannen likes the depth his team possess . “ One of our notable strengths is the depth of our roster , with 13 players who are all capable of contributing to our success ,” he explained . “ While there may be a distinct difference in skill levels from our most experienced player to our least experienced , it is essential to recognize that each player brings unique talents and perspectives to the team . This diversity can enhance our gameplay and create a well-rounded unit .” Westside should compete in a new look 4A-3 and make a return to the regional tournament .