Season Preview: Pioneer girls’ basketball is on guard for upcoming season

It was quite the season last year for the Pioneer girls’ basketball team. Under the direction of Coach Tyrone Hicks, Pioneer won the SEC Red Division and a District title before falling to Wayne Memorial in a Regional Final.

Pioneer went 19-5 last season with a great mix of youth and seniors. This season promises to be another strong one but some big shoes are going to need to be filled for a team that returns an exceptional backcourt.

“We have a young and talented team that will need to gel quickly and develop toughness,” says Hicks, now in his fifth season with the Pioneers. “The loss of Asaria Turman and Corine Burgard will be felt. Our returning backcourt will need to play with confidence and poise.”

That backcourt should have plenty of confidence after last season. Lauren DeWolf (All-SEC) and Mya Hicks (Honorable Mention All-SEC) will be sophomores this year after strong freshman seasons. Junior Felicia Stewart also was a major contributor in the backcourt last season.

Top new players sophomores Alexis Clark and Brein Bogan along with junior Jackie Brines.

“Our strengths will be guard play and the ability to shoot the ball,” Hicks says. “We will be athletic but a small team. We will need to play good defense and rebound the ball.”

Pioneer opens the season at home on Dec. 3 against Grass Lake.