Shawnee pins hopes on returning players

The Shawnee High School boys’ basketball team graduated all of its starters from last season’s 5-20 team.

However, first-year head coach and former Shawnee athlete Tim Ellis returns three players from the squad who saw plenty of playing time at the varsity level.

The threesome are 5-5 senior guard Ty McMahan, 6-1 senior forward Dylan Smith and 6-1 junior forward Andrew Livesay.

“It’s a different world learning all the different IHSA regulations,” said Ellis, who was the Shawnee junior high school boys’ basketball coach for several seasons. “I just hope we can compete.”

Other players Ellis is looking at for varsity playing time are a trio of seniors in 6-1 forward Eric Woolard, 6-2 forward Jackie Calvert and 6-0 guard Coty Gusterson, along with 5-5 junior guard Gage Shelton, 5-8 freshman guard Aiden McMahan and 6-3 freshman forward Austin Treece.

“We’re not very big so it’s going to be hard to match up to other teams,” Ellis said. “We’re going to rely on our speed to put pressure on the ball and cause some turnovers.”

Ellis said the Redskins have  a trio of 3-point shooting threats in Ty McMahan, Shelton and Smith.

Ellis does guarantee the team will be able to run up and down the floor better than last season.

“We’re going to be in a lot better shape than last year,” he said.

Ellis looks at Meridian and Goreville as being the powers in the South Egyptian Conference race.

“After that, I’ll think it’ll be pretty even,” he said.

The Redskins open their season at the Trico Tournament against Red Bud Monday, Nov. 29.