WOLVERINES BASKETBALL READY FOR ACTION
After a second straight year of the Wolverines football team reaching the state championship game, the tip-off of 2025-26 basketball season gets a late start as Randy Ragland takes charge of the boys basketball future. This season, the roster has a familiar look with four starters returning from an 8-14 campaign paced by Top 100 nominee Masyn Wright (6’1, Sr. G) who led the statistical charts last season averaging 14 points per game while collecting six-plus rebounds every night in addition to handing out six assists to his teammates. Trace Sanders (6’3, Sr. F/C) will return to his familiar spot on the low blocks expecting to build on last year’s numbers that totaled 7.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while Joe O’Neal (6’0, Sr. G) and Cash Trammel (6’2, Sr. G/F) who contributed eight points per game take their place again in the starting lineup joined by Ledger Folsom (5’9, Sr. G) joins the lineup this year.
The contributions of underclassmen will again play a pivotal role to the Wolverines success including the double-double impact of Demaurian Antwine (6’4, Jr. F) who totaled 12 rebounds per game in addition to his 10-plus points while Jeremiah Marshall (6-1, So. G) who added five points a game as a freshman a year ago. Rylan Lane (5’10, So. G) plus a pair of impact performers Amos Wright (6’2, Fr. G/F) and Isaiah Owens (6’0, Fr. G) help to solidify depth on this year’s roster.
“We’ve only had a short time together in the gym; but the efforts during the offseason were impressive,” said Ragland. “Great energy and commitment, the same traits that led the football team to play for the state championship will carryover to the basketball floor and give us the advantage in close games.”
The Lady Wolverines will rely upon the leadership and experience of a trio of returning starters as Athena McCoy begins her fourth season as the mentor for the Lady Wolverines. VYPE Top 100 nominee, Halli Russell (5’4 Sr. Guard) will reunite with Kiah Richardson (Sr. Post) and Shelbie Glass (Jr. Forward) as the foundation for success. Rayleigh Terrill (Sr. Post) and Aliyah Tucker (Jr. G) will add to the talent pool.
“Halli is a 4-year performer who brings an aggressive offensive skill set to the court in addition to her contributions on the defensive end of the floor,” said McCoy. “With her leadership skills, she’s the ideal talent to handle the point guard duties and give us the best chance to win.”
McCoy plans to maximize the talents of her lineup with an uptempo style offense while mixing man and zone defensive strategies to stymie opponents’ ability to score.
