By Amanda Perkins
Under the direction of coach Steve Voyles, the Winona Wildcats brought home their third straight Big Springs Conference victory last year, going 19-8 on the season.
The Wildcats lost three seniors to graduation: Levi Rightnowar, Tre Thomason, and Dalton Voyles.
“All three were great leaders that never missed a practice and always gave their very best,” said Coach Voyles. Levi was “instant energy,” he said, with “relentless sacrifice and effort.” Tre was a 1,000 point scorer, lockdown defender, and could play any position on the floor. “Dalton was one of the best floor leaders I’ve ever been around,” said Voyles, “and also a lockdown defender. He gave the game everything he had every day.”
The team was sophomore-heavy last year, so despite the lack of seniors on the team this year, the juniors bring experience to the table.
Stoney Redman has been a varsity starter since he entered high school, and has 40 varsity wins under his belt going into his junior year. A versatile player who plays a physical brand of basketball, he also has a great pull-up jumper. Aaron Walker is another junior who started for Winona last year and led the team in points, rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and three point percentage.
“He is a strong athlete and should be one of the best inside scorers around, and he can also face up away from the basket and score,” said Coach Voyles. The Wildcats return their best perimeter defender in Brendon Simpson, who came on the last half of last season and has continued to improve his scoring ability, ball handling, and floor leadership.
Zach Neal, junior, also returns to the squad. “He made more 3-pointers as a sophomore than any player I’ve coached in a single season,” said Voyles. “One of Zach’s three-point makes was the game-winner for the conference championship last year, so he has big shot-making ability.”
Dylan Teague is a 6’6” junior who is coming off a successful junior varsity season. According to his coach, he is a good finisher around the rim, a great rebounder and a great shot blocker. “His versatile defense and length will be a huge part of our team this year,” said Voyles. Another player coming up from junior varsity is Logan Baker. A hard worker who has focused on developing his fundamentals, he brings hustle and a good basketball IQ to the table.
Rounding out the team are three players who didn’t come out last year: Johnny Lacey, Chris Sandavol, and Tanner Williams. Johnny is a gritty player, a skilled ball handler, and a savvy playmaker. Chris is an athletic defender, and Tanner is a 6’5” slasher, rebounder, and rim protector.
Winona will look to play fast and utilize their depth, pushing the ball down the floor as much as possible. They plan to press in the full court and focus on protecting the paint in the half court. “I think our greatest strengths should be our depth, ability to shoot the ball, and rebound,” said Coach Voyles. “As long as we move the ball well, I believe those strengths will serve us well.”
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Voyles said his team’s goal is always to contend for conference and district championships. “We will be young this year, but I believe we have the talent and experience to contend. This should be one of the deeper teams I have been able to coach, which is a big plus.”
