It won’t be long before basketballs are bouncing again at Charlie Dalton Gym. The unofficial season kickoff came Thursday when coaches gathered for the District 6-4A Media Day, the ultimate lead-up for what should be a fascinating battle for titles this winter.
Media Day served as a debut for coach Danny Fish, who will be leading the Pioneers for the first time starting next month, while Anthony Lippe has emerged as one of the elderstatesmen at the event. Both also left with some bulletin-board material once the preseason polls came out.
Coffee County was selected by the media and coaches as the preseason favorite in both girls and boys basketball in District 6-4A. It probably didn’t come as a shock to many considering the Lady Raiders haven’t lost a district game since 2018 and the Red Raiders are coming off a season where they advanced to the state, but it still could be a little extra incentive for the Pioneers and Lady Pioneers.
Coach Lippe’s team was picked second in both polls, while the Pioneers were slated for a third-place finish by the media and coaches.
Lippe, who wasn’t in attendance Thursday due to a prior commitment, noted in a conference call that he’s working harder than ever after the Lady Pioneers went 24-8 last year and won a region game for the first time since 1979.
“It just makes me want to coach harder,” said Lippe, noting his team’s experience and goals as a main motivator for wanting even more success. “I’m asking them to up their game and I have to up mine too.
“We have expectations and goals. We want to accomplish some things that haven’t been done in a lone time in Warren County.”
All the girls coaches, particularly Lippe and Coffee County leader Joe Pat Cope, know that making a deep postseason run isn’t easy when coming out of District 6-4A. Warren County and Coffee County, both preseason top 10 teams in some 6A polls across the state, would have to take down some powerhouse programs if they want to make it to Murfreesboro.
“Six of the teams in the preseason top 10 polls are in our region or you’d meet one in sectionals,” noted Cope, who is bringing back four starters from last year’s squad that went unbeaten in district play. “Four of those teams are going home before sectionals and only one can advance. In the district championship and beyond, it’s all going to be 1-2 possession games late.”
Shelbyville was picked third in the girls polls as the Eaglettes return four starters for last year’s improved squad, while Franklin County was picked fourth.
On the boys side, coach Fish has enjoyed settling in as Warren County coach and led the Pioneers to a 10-1 record over the summer. When it comes to winning championships though, Fish knows there’s only so much he can do on the sidelines to influence the outcomes.
“It’s not as much about X’s and O’s as it is Jimmies and Joes. You don’t win the Kentucky Derby with a Shetland pony,” said Fish. “We’re focusing on being good (in what we do) everyday – that’s our expectation. Success should also be an expectation if you’re a competitor. As Charles Barkley says, ‘show me somebody OK with losing and I’ll show you a loser.’”
The Pioneers bring back six seniors with experience, including two former all-district players – Kaden Rutledge and Sawyer Seymour. Warren County will be hoping to move up the standings after being picked to win the district last year, only to finish last in the tournament.
It won’t be easy though. Sharpshooter Dayne Crosslin is back to lead the Red Raiders and reigning District 6-4A MVP Shaimar Lyons returns for the Franklin County Rebels.
