Sports Writer

GOSHEN – While many girls basketball teams are looking forward to the start of summer vacation, the offseason work is just beginning for the Goshen High School Lady Eagles.

In an attempt to get the program back on stable financial ground, the Lady Eagles started hitting the ground running immediately after the season was over selling Boston Butts. The Goshen girls spent much of their time during Spring Break taking orders and selling Boston Butts in Crenshaw and Pike counties to help offset the costs of attending summer camp.

As a result of their hard work, the Lady Eagles sold 217 Boston Butts while delivering them to homes throughout the Easter weekend. Goshen girls head coach Charlie Winchester said he was amazed at the reaction of the tremendous sales.

"Someone at Kelly’s BBQ (who furnished the Boston Butts) told me he was amazed with the amount we sold," Winchester said. "They said we sold more than most 5A and 6A schools. It’s a credit to the parents working hard and the girls showing love for the basketball program."

After the jellybean count was completed in early April, Winchester said the next fundraiser was the school-wide three point contest in which reach person participating paid $1 while onlookers had to pay a quarter. Due to an awesome backboard shattering by one of the GHS students during a pickup game shortly before Spring Break, Winchester said the contest has taken an entire month due to the incredible response by the students.

The contest was scheduled to be finished Tuesday with the winners earning certificates to their favorite Troy restaurants. The final three contestants were LaTrez Woods, Deonte Pelton and Jacob Mahone.

Winchester said another fundraiser could be required to pay the expenses for the replaced backboard before basketball season starts next winter.

The final fundraiser will take place on Sat., June 9 with a car wash scheduled to take place at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Troy from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Winchester said tickets will be pre-sold from now until Friday, June 8 for $4. In case a person doesn’t buy a ticket before the day of the car wash, the roundballers will still wash it for $5. However, a person who buys a pre-sold ticket must show it the day of the car wash.

The Goshen junior varsity girls basketball team will sell drinks and cakes at the SuperCenter on the day of the car wash.

Winchester said the Lady Eagles will begin selling car wash tickets Sat., May 5.

On the following week, the Lady Eagles will travel to Birmingham to participate in the Birmingham Southern College High School Basketball Camp to kickoff the business portion of the offseason. The camp will run from June 17-19 and feature several of the best girls high school basketball teams in the state. Winchester said the tournament will guarantee the Lady Eagles at least 10 games against such teams as north Alabama powers Fyffe, Ider, Section and Sylvania. In addition, a situation tournament will be held to test the teams on performance under pressure situations.

The schedule will be more challenging in the 2001-02 season as five more games will be added including two holiday tournaments. Shortly before Christmas, the Lady Eagles are set to play in the Dothan Girls Holiday Prep Basketball Tournament at Northview High School for the second consecutive year. In order to prevent a long layoff before New Year’s, Winchester said the Goshen girls will also participate in the Blue-Gray Girls Basketball Tournament in Montgomery. Other girls teams scheduled to play in the event include defending tournament champ and ’01 Final Four participant Highland Home, St. James, Headland, Calhoun, Montgomery County and Montgomery Academy.

In order for

summer plans to get into full gear, Winchester said he’s planning a fish fry with the Lady Eagles on Saturday in order to bring the team closer together.

"We’ll discuss the camp and try to create oneness with the team in the summer which is something they haven’t had in four years," Winchester said.

In addition to the camps, Winchester said he will discuss summer workouts and the goals for the Lady Eagles in the offseason.

"I want to have my team ready when we step on the court so I won’t have to coach as hard," Winchester said. "We’ll be organized and know what to do in every situation. Our success will be proportionate to what we do in the summer determined by the amount of work we put in. Our goal is to have a winning season. Success is expensive and everyone can’t afford to pay the price."