By Rex Kirts
South ended last year with a crushing defeat in the regional final, a loss to Jeffersonville that ended the Panthers' winning streak at 49 games. It is the second longest streak in Indiana high school history.
That was followed by the graduation of center Erik Fromm and the early graduation of Matt Carlino, ceremonies which took two of the team's valuable starters.
These events could put a damper on prospects for 2010-11, but they don't. The Panthers are still in pretty decent shape. More will be known after practice begins Monday.
Coach J.R. Holmes, the fifth winningest active coach with 629 career victories, is beginning his 29th year as the Panthers' head coach and 40th overall. He has four-year starters Dee Davis back at point guard and Spencer Turner back on the wing. And senior Joey Forney, a two-year starter, is back at forward.
THAT'S A STOUT TRIO. Xavier-bound Davis was MVP on the unbeaten state championship team his sophomore year, and Bellmont-bound Turner can shoot the 3-pointer as prolific as anyone. Forney has looked good in fall open gym.
While the Panthers lack a proven big man and their depth must come around, they showed over the summer there is adequate talent and team savvy. Even without the Duke-bound Forney, who concentrated on baseball, they posted an 18-2 summer record. They lost to talent-loaded Hamilton Southeastern when all their players weren't there and to an all-star team from St. Louis in the national tournament in Las Vegas.
"We'll be senior-dominated for the first time in a while," Holmes said. "We'll probably start five seniors and have seven or eight on the team. Senior experience is good."
Starters in addition to Davis, Turner and Forney should be Ben Stowell on the wing and Desmond Marks in the middle. Alex Forney and juniors Michael Bower and Trae Washington will come off the bench.
"My concern is depth," Holmes said. "Do we have someone who can be a positive factor for us? My second concern is rebounding."
BOWER HAD a great summer and could provide a good spark off the bench. He plays a lot like David Blackwell did, aggressively, for the state champs two years ago. Alex Forney is like that, too, and Washington was consistent during summer play.
There's nobody with Fromm's height, 6-8, but Marks is 6-5 1/2, Joey Forney 6-4, Turner 6-4, Alex Forney 6-3 and Sstowell 6-1, so there is decent all-around size. Senior Gabe Hull, the state discus champion, is giving basketball a try this year and is 6-7.
The Panthers won't be as quick as last year, with the loss of Carlino and Fromm, but Davis is in a quickness league by himself because of his spectacular acrobatic, slashing play.
"The players like to get up and down the floor,' Holmes said. "It depends on how well we rebound. I think we can replace some of Fromm's and Carlino's points."
Despite his concerns, Holmes sees good things for this team. If the schedule permits.
"IT SHOULD BE a year in which we're competitive," he said, "even though this is maybe the toughest schedule we've ever had. Everybody has a bunch back."
The schedule includes 12 homes games and the Hall of Fame tourney in New Castle. Big crowds are exected at home because of the many quality opponents coming in.
The 49-game winning streak is over, but others are intact. "We've won 44 regular season games in a row," Holmes said, "24 straight in Conference Indiana (that's a three-year unbeaten streak),
and 34 straight games at home."
The Panthers scrimmage Bloomington North Nov. 18 at North. The regular season opens Nov. 27 at New Albany, and the home opener is the second game on the schedule, against Bedford North Lawrence on Dec. 3. Also, South will host the sectional this year.
"I think we're anxious to get going," Holmes said.
PANTHER SCHEDULE
Nov. 18: Scrimmage at North, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 27: At New Albany, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 3: Bedford North Lawrence, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4: Evansville Harrison, 8 p.m.
Dec. 10: Southport, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11: At Terre Haute North, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17: At Lawrence Central, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 18: Jeffersonville, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 21: Carmel, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 30: Hall of Fame at New Castle, 1 p.m.
Jan. 7: Bloomington North, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 11: Columbus East, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 14: At Edgewood, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21: At Martinsville, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 22: Franklin Central, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 28: At Pike, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 4: Columbus North, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10: Center Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12: Warren Central, 2:30 p.m.
Feb. 18: At Perry Meridian, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19: LaPorte LaLumiere, tba
Feb. 24: At Decatur Central, 7:30 p.m.
March 1,4,5: Sectional
March 12: Regional
March 19: Semistate
March 26: State
