Sports Editor

Basketball schedules for the 2001-2002 season have been released for Pike Liberal Arts, Goshen and Charles Henderson.

Goshen opens the season on Dec. 4 at home against region opponent Luverne. The Eagles, who made it to Birmingham and the Class 2A Final Four one year ago, will then be on the road three straight times against Georgiana (Dec. 7), Pike County (Dec. 8) and Straughn (Dec. 11). The annual Southeastern Athletic Conference Tournament will be played in Luverne on Dec. 13-15. Goshen will participate in two other tournaments before the first of the year, playing in the Baldwin County Tournament in Bay Minette on Dec. 20-21, followed by the Dothan Progress Tournament to be held in Dothan on Dec. 26-31.

Although the Eagles will have to deal with the loss of 6-4 shot blocker Jamar Tucker, Goshen returns four-year starter at shooting guard Averick Rogers. Rogers will team-up with junior Kendaris Pelton (6-4), who was listed as one of the top five juniors in the state during the summer.

The girl’s squad will be coached by James Pair this season, who takes over for the departed Charles Winchester.

The Charles Henderson boy’s team opens at Headland this Friday night in the Headland High School Classic. Play continues on Saturday, with the Trojans’ first home game coming next Tuesday, Nov. 27, against Geneva High School. That will also be the the first game for the Lady Trojans.

Both CHHS varsity squads will play in the Barbour County High School Classic (Dec. 18-19) and the Alabama State Tournament, held in ASU’s Acadome on Dec. 26-29.

Pike Liberal Arts opened its season last night at home against Abbeville Academy. PLAS will next play at Hooper on Nov. 27, followed by a home contest against Fort Dale on Nov. 29.

The Patriots have a new head coach in Paul Kirchharr, who was the defensive coordinator for PLAS head football coach Mack Williams during the football season. Robert Hawkins returns to coach the Lady Patriots’ basketball team.

The Patriots and Lady Patriots will play in the Wilcox Academy and Dixie Academy tourney, which take place on Dec. 14-15 and Dec. 28-29, respectively.

Since the Pike County football team is still very much in the Class 3A state playoffs, no schedule has been released, as of yet, for PCHS’s varsity basketball teams.