It’s a new season and a new region, but many of the same faces return with another year of experience under their belts as the Statesboro boys tip off their basketball season tonight at Windsor Forest.
    The Blue Devils ended last season on a sour note as they bowed out of the Region 2-AAAA quarterfinals and missed out on the state playoffs. This time around, a seasoned group of juniors and seniors are ready to lead the way.
    “It’s always nice when you have a big group coming back,” said SHS coach Lee Hill. “Not only do you have an easier time figuring out who can play, but everyone knows what it takes to get the job done.”
    After a breakout freshman season and a solid sophomore campaign, junior guard Zaquavian Smith is looking forward to being a top scoring option for the Devils this season.
    Also highlighting Statesboro’s talented backcourt are seniors Yakeem Coleman — now in his fourth season on the varsity squad — and Daniel Houston. Coleman provides a steady shooting threat from the outside while Houston is a force slashing through defenses and driving to the basket.
    Another big benefit of so many returning players is an added year of physical maturity.
    Jonathan Taylor was a force down low for the Devils after missing the early part of 2011-12 with an injury while Alex Simmons showed plenty of promise as a freshman. Both have been hitting the weights in the offseason and are prepared to form a larger, more physical presence than the Devils have seen in recent years.
    “We’ll definitely be bigger, although we’ve been so small sometimes that that’s not saying much,” said Hill. “Obviously, we think that will help with our rebounding, but being bigger will also help us to play fast like we want to. When you can count on more defensive rebounds, you can get out on the break where we have guys that can make things happen.”
    Hill knows how the Devils want to attack opponents this season, but will use Statesboro’s first few games to straighten out some other things. Defensive alignments and rotations are both highlighted points that Hill wants to tinker with in the opening weeks.
    The Devils will need to find just the right combination to compete in the realigned Region 3-AAAA which figures to be one of the more competitive regions in Class AAAA.
    Familiar rivals Liberty County, South Effingham and Wayne County are in the Devils’ sub-region while Burke County and a host of talented Augusta-area schools make up the northern half of the region.
    “I think that we’re an improved team this year,” said Hill. “But in this region, it remains to be seen whether that will mean more wins for us. There are very good teams on both sides of the region, so we’re going to have to figure things out early and play at a high level all season.”

Lady Devils regrouping
    Contrary to the boys, Statesboro’s girls team has been working to fill some big holes in its roster since the final whistle of last season.
    The Lady Blue Devils’ quintet of graduated seniors from last season combined for two region titles, a pair of trips to the state quarterfinals, three college scholarships and a combined record of 92-23 in their four years, but now it’s time for a new group to pick up the torch.
    “We love those girls and we’ll certainly miss them, but now it’s time to move on,” said SHS coach Jeff Seier. “We’ve got a younger group now and I’m sure that there will be some growing pains, but the goal is to build right back up.”
    This season’s starting lineup will have plenty of new names, but the Devils still bring a good bit of talent to the floor.
    Junior forward Shanikwa Buie will have to use her experience to lead the Devils early on. Buie saw quality playing time almost immediately during her freshman season and steadily improved while playing the role of the Devils’ third option inside the paint. With Alisia Jenkins and Sierra Kirkland now playing college ball, it’s Buie’s turn to be Statesboro’s main inside force on a nightly basis.
    As the only six-footer on the roster, Niya Drummer will team up with Buie to try and keep up the dominant inside presence that has defined the team for the last few years.
    On the outside, a pair of rising seniors will step into spots vacated by Erika McDade and Shanice Walker.
    Last season, Kyera Whitaker gave the Devils solid production at the guard position as a bench option and occasional starter. Whitaker figured to walk right into a starting role this season, but she tore an ACL during the Devils’ second round loss in the state playoffs and has been on the mend all summer.
    “Kyera has worked hard to get herself healthy,” said Seier. “It can be a mental challenge to get out there and go at 100 percent, but I’m sure that she’ll be fine and will do a good job for us again this year.”
    Along with Buie and Whitaker, senior guard Ricajanee Williams also received plenty of playing time last season. Williams stands at just 5-foot-2, but is lightning-quick off of the dribble and plays a tenacious defense that will benefit the Devils’ tendency to press and run the floor.
    Despite the high turnover, Seier is confident that his team has the talent to succeed once again, even if the Devils have to endure some bumps in the road.
    “A lot of these girls are going to have to take that next step and learn how to play four hard quarters at the varsity level,” said Seier. “There’s nothing that you can really say as a coach to make that happen. They’re just going to have to learn that through experience.
    “It’s no secret that we’ve kind of put the hammer on some teams the last few years. I’m sure that those teams would love to return the favor, but I think that our girls will use that as even more motivation to step up.”
   
    Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9404.