As the Laurel Lady Tornadoes and Tornadoes prepare for the upcoming 2009-2010 basketball campaign, there will be some new faces around both basketball programs this season. The Lady Tornadoes will be coached by Sules Walker-Hales, while the Tornadoes will have a brand new starting five on the court.

Tornadoes

Tornado head coach Jason Williams knows going into the new season his team will experience some growing pains, but he also knows they will get better with every game they play. “We are going to take some bumps and bruises,” the coach said. “In the end it will helps us for when we start region play.”

Williams believes there will be three key factors for the Tornadoes this season. “We have to play ball on both sides of the court. We have to be able to rebound,” he said. “And the last thing is, we have to be able to stop the press and limit turnovers.”

Williams knows his team will face a tough Region 5-4A slate once region play opens up.

“Quitman has a lot of players coming back, and Northeast Lauderdale will be tough. They probably have one of the toughest guards in the south in A.J.. Wade,” he said. “South Jones will be a tough challenge as well because their starting five can all handle the ball.”

The Tornadoes have two goals this season. “We want to win the district,” said Williams. “And we want to get Jackson.”

Lady Tornadoes

Sules Walker-Hales is coming home to coach at her alma mater. Walker-Hales said it was a tough decision leaving Heidelberg, but did so because she was coming home. “ It was a dream come true. It was a tough decision. I had been with those girls since they were in the seventh grade,” she said. “But it was an easy decision because I was getting a chance to come back home to coach Laurel.”

While the Lady Tornadoes might be young, Walker-Hales believes her team is a very athletic squad. “We have a lot of quickness on our team,” she said. “We are going to have a very good transition game, as well as a good post game. We have 2 guards that are 6’2, so I have big hopes for our post game.”

Walker-Hales has an idea of who her starting five will be when they face Hattiesburg next Tuesday night in the season opener. “Our starters will be Destiny Henderson (sophomore), Amber Nicholson (sophomore), who can really shoot the ball, Brittany Stephens (senior), who is also a very good shooter, ChiKaylla Walker (freshman), and Germeca Bolton (freshman),” she said. “Those girls can really play as a unit, and have really stood out so far.”

Walker-Hales and the Lady Tornados have two team goals set for this season. “We want to win our first game,” she said. “And we want to win the state championship. That maybe a bold statement, but I told the girls to set high expectations for yourselves because that’s the way we’ll get there by believing in ourselves.”

Both Laurel squads will be in action next Tuesday night when they open the season at Hattiesburg.