With several returning starters and a complement of experienced players returning to both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Clinton High School, there are lofty expectations for the upcoming season.
The women’s team returns three starters from last year’s squad that finished the season 24-6, and gets the services of Duke signee Mikayla Boykin who has sat out the past two seasons due to injury. The men also return three starters from last year’s team, that compiled a 19-9 record and won the Four County Conference Tournament title.
Lady Dark Horse head Coach Chris Owens says that expectations for this year’s team are higher than usual. “We always set high goals, but this year is a little different. We get Boykin back and have a really strong nucleus of returning players. Alex Canady, Kiera Mabry and Charica Joyner are returning starters and Ashlyn Williams, our sixth woman, is back.”
While Owens realizes that lots of the pieces of the puzzle are in place, hard work will be the glue that brings the picture together. “The team has worked really hard; we had great summer workouts and all the ladies are learning and accepting their roles, and we are developing a really good chemistry. We have really good depth on this team and will go seven or eight deep with very little dropoff.”
Like Owens, men’s head coach Randy Jordan is looking forward to a successful 2016-17 campaign and makes no apologies for his team’s lofty goals. “We always set high goals. We want to win the conference title, the conference tournament and make a very deep run in the state playoffs,” stressed Jordan.
As is usually the case this time of year, the Dark Horses have started preseason practice without the services of several players who are still playing football.
Jordan made it clear that while these players are important to the team he is in no hurry to get them on the court. “I hope these guys are playing football until the 19th of December. I want them to have tremendous success on the field and then come join us on the court. We have 10 guys with us right now, three returning starters from last year, and will welcome the guys from football when they are done.”
Jordan praised his team’s hard work, adding “The guys have worked extremely hard in pre-season practice; they are learning their roles and getting better. We have played well in the four scrimmages we have had so far and the guys have developed a really good chemistry. They really enjoy each other and playing together.”
The Lady Dark Horses get their season started when they travel to West Brunswick, while the boys will participate in the Laney Hoops Feast on Friday and Saturday in Wilmington. The boys play 4A foe E.E. Smith on Friday at 4:30 pm and then face 2A Red Springs on Saturday at 1:30 to wrap up the holiday tournament.
Both Clinton coaches stressed the importance of the community supporting their teams., and encouraged Dark Horse supporters to come out and cheer their teams on, both at home and on the road.
Owens said, “I just hope the community will come out and support the girls this year. We should be very entertaining, and we love having the support of our fans.”
Jordan also promised a fast-paced brand of entertaining basketball. “We will once again play an exciting brand of basketball, and hope our fans come out to support us and enjoy another winning season.”
