Shawnee boys basketball team boasts nine seniors

The Shawnee High School boys basketball team will have a senior laden squad for the 2009-2010 campaign.

Nine seniors are on the Redskins’ roster this season.

“We’ve got a total of 19 kids out and we’ve got a lot of kids pushing other kids,” first-year head coach Brett Pinnon said. “We have a deeper rotation than we’ve had in a while.”

Three full-time and a part-time senior starter returns from last year’s 13-15 squad.

The three senior starters who are returning are Tyler Davis, a 6-1 forward; Tyler Spurlock, a 6-3 forward; and Kyle Griggs, a 6-1 guard.

The part time returner is senior Tyler Glidewell, a 6-0 guard.

Other seniors on the roster are Kyle Stevens, a 6-0 forward; Greg Smith, a 6-0 forward; Tyler Brant, a 5-9 guard; Anthony Crane, a 5-11 guard; and Alex Wooldridge, a 6-0 forward.

Pinnon said he has been an assistant varsity coach when the seniors were freshmen and he’s watched them mature over the years.

Juniors in the mix are Ty McMahan, a 5-9 guard; Dylan Smith, a 6-1 forward; and Andrew Livesay, a 6-1 guard.

A freshman who could see varsity action is Adam Pennington, a 5-11 guard.

Brant, Glidewell, McMahan and Crane are all 3-point shooting threats for the Redskins.

“We’re going to be disciplined and not force shots,” Pinnon said. “We’re going  to  rely on our defense intensity and getting the ball down the floor.”

With this squad, Pinnon is looking for a winning season.

“I think we will be above .500,”  he said. “If we avoid the injury bug and everybody accepts their role, we could finish in the top tier of the conference.”

The Redskins open their season in the Trico Invitational and play the host Pioneers in opening round action Monday, Nov. 30.