The Charles Henderson Trojans will begin a new era this evening when they welcome in Bullock County to begin the 2016 and 2017 basketball season.

Long time Charles Henderson Middle School head coach Shelby Tuck takes the reigns as head coach, and after a lengthy delay, the Trojans are ready to finally begin the season.

“We are excited,” Tuck said. “I know our guys have been beating up on each other so they are ready for some competitive play. We are starting a little late, but that is all part of it and we are going to make due with what we got.”

The Trojans have been practicing for about a month, and after finally coming together as a full team, Tuck believes his team is getting closer.

“We are progressing,” Tuck said. “I told them with us not having much experience at guard, it’s been nice having extra practice time. Now that we have been able to practice against one another, we just have to let the guys get out there and we are hoping to have that same fire.”

The Trojans roster will consist of six players that had a lot of experience from a season ago. One of the players coming back that will be looked on to lead will be senior big man Josh Roberts.

“He is a senior,” Tuck said. “If he can get in there and protect the basket and do what he is supposed to do then he will make the team go. The guys feed off his energy so we look for him to have senior leadership and to come out and play hard for us.”

Tuck hopes Roberts stays aggressive, if so he believes Roberts’ height can be a difference maker.

“It’s a great advantage, but sometimes I think he gets lazy because he is so much bigger than everybody else and he loses that dominant force that he has,” Tuck said. “He has been working really hard so I am looking forward to a lot of good things from him. We are really depending on him.”

Kelshun Campbell, Jalen Tuck are two other members that will be looked at to lead the Trojans this season.

The Trojans will be matched up with Brewbaker Tech and Greenville in Class 5A Area four.

“We haven’t seen them yet,” Tuck Said. “Greenville played football late and Brewbaker Tech doesn’t have a football team so we are hoping to get tape on them. Any of the schools that come out of Montgomery are going to play you hard man to man. Our guys are going to have to man up. It’s all between the ears: if we can get it together mentally we can be successful.”

The Trojans will begin their season this evening when they take on Bullock County following the junior varsity and girls games beginning at 4:30.