A year ago the Charles Henderson Lady Trojans were bounced in the opening round of the Class 5A regional tournament to Brewbaker Technical Magnet High School. This season they will have the opportunity to return the favor when they once again go up against the Rams this time for the region championship in Dothan.

“I can’t express in words about how excited I am,” said Trojans head coach Dyneshia Jones. “I am ready to play and to see how the girls react. It’s the same team we played last year and we are just ready for the outcome.”

The Rams enter Wednesday’s game after demolishing their way through the sub-regional and regional rounds, picking up a 71-38 win over Jackson and a 70-48 win over Faith Academy.

“They have all around players like we do,” Jones said. “They have a great shooter in (Bianca) Jackson. Her mom is the coach at Alabama State so she has been trained really well. They also have some role players so it’s not just one player that we are watching. They have a good squad.”

The Lady Trojans expect the Rams to come into the game with a game plan similar to last year’s: get the ball to Jackson

“I don’t think they will change,” Jones said. “They are going to get the ball to her (Jackson). That is their main player and leading scorer so of course they are going to try and get the ball into her hands. We just have to play defense.”

Although the Trojans fell in the first round of regionals a year ago they do have experience winning this game. Two years ago the Trojans advanced to the state tournament and all but one player on the roster was part of the team.

“They have been and they know what it takes,” Jones said. “Everything right now shouldn’t be a big deal. We have already had this sweet candy. We are trying to get more different things right now.”

One player that is sure to not let the moment get too big is senior India Blakely. The senior is wrapping up her final year with the Trojans and her impact on the team cannot be measured.

“She is a team captain who works hard,” Jones said. “The team feeds off that. When the team sees her excited and hot they feed off that and go from there. Never have I seen India hang her head and walk down the court.”

With all the success Blakely has had on the court, including signing a scholarship to play at Mercer next season, Jones would love to send her off with a championship.

“She deserves it,” Jones said. “She has been playing for a long time. I can’t think of another player that has wanted it as bad as India. She has a lot of awards and stuff but that ring will be sweeter than anything else.”

The Rams and the Trojans tip off for the region championship today at 12:30 p.m. inside Dothan Civic Center.