Highlights: Gibson Southern vs Memorial girls basketball
Paige Schnaus scored the game winner for Gibson Southern in a 57-55 win over Memorial
EVANSVILLE — Is it ever too early to look ahead to basketball season in Indiana?
The answer is no if you’re a high school coach. The month of June is important as any on the calendar with teams allowed to practice and even play games. Across Southwestern Indiana, it’s also the start for seven new coaches.
More: The new IHSAA sectionals are out. Here are the changes for Southwestern Indiana.
A look at each new hire in the Courier & Press coverage area. We will update the list should any changes or omissions occur.
Boonville
Ryan McKinney was chosen to lead the girls basketball program on May 13.
The Boonville grad is a familiar name across multiple sports in Warrick County. McKinney is currently the baseball coach at his alma mater and recently completed a 12-13 season that included a sectional semifinal victory against No. 9 Princeton. He was also the girls basketball coach at Castle from 2007-12, finishing with a 63-70 record and three sectional championships.
The Pioneers went 4-20 last season and return several contributors including first team All-PAC selection Emily Parker.
Bosse
Lewis Jones Jr. was named the girls basketball coach on April 29.
The Memphis native played four seasons for the University of Evansville, averaging 6.1 points as a senior for coach Marty Simmons. Jones comes from the Bosse boys basketball program where he was an assistant for the regional champions.
The Bulldogs were 2-19 this past season.
Memorial
Mallory Ladd was announced as the girls basketball coach on April 17.
The Memorial graduate was a star player for the Tigers. Ladd remains third in program history in points and was an Indiana All-Star on the 2011 state championship team. She played college basketball at Valparaiso and Evansville. Ladd has previous experience coaching at the middle school level.
Memorial went 20-4 last season and won the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference championship.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ladd previously told the Courier & Press. “This was my second home for years. Many hours here, lots of sweat, tears and hard work put in. There’s no place like it. I don’t want to take this for granted.”
Mount Vernon
Rocky Alderman was named the new girls basketball coach on April 1.
He was an assistant for Gene Miiller the past five seasons at Washington. Alderman also has experience with the DistinXion C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S basketball program founded by Luke Zeller and the Zeller family. He was also the head basketball student manager at the University of Evansville under coach Marty Simmons.
Mount Vernon went 3-21 last winter and graduated only one senior.
“I’m excited to begin my head coaching career at Mount Vernon and have an opportunity to teach our girls to compete in one of the best basketball conferences in the state,” Alderman said in a press release. “As a coach, and also as a math teacher, I hope to have an impact on the young people in Mount Vernon, showing them how to become the best versions of themselves to become leaders in their community.”
North Knox
Josh Adams was approved to be the next boys basketball coach on May 21.
He spent the last five years as an assistant for Steve Muerer during a successful run in the girls program. Previous stops include assistant positions at Washington and Eastern Greene. The 2007 North Knox graduate played collegiately at Oakland City. His father, Joe Adams, was the North Knox coach from 1976-81.
The Warriors went 7-17 last winter. Adams will be the program’s third coach in four years.
Tell City
Dayne Seibert was approved as the boys basketball coach on May 16.
The 2012 Tell City graduate was a three-sport athlete for the Marksmen. He previously coached at the junior high level within the program. Tell City went 2-22 this past season. Seibert will be its third different coach in four years.
Wood Memorial
Whitney Powers was named the next girls basketball coach on April 16.
The 2010 Wood Memorial graduate was a starting guard on four sectional championship teams and helped the program reach the Class 1A state championship game as a freshman. She played collegiately at Oakland City and has been an assistant with the program the past eight years.
The Trojans, who went 16-11 last winter and won the Class 1A regional championship, return multiple starters including leading scorer Katie Sevier. Johnnie Bartley retired following the season in March with a decorated coaching career at his alma mater: 313 career victories, 12 sectional titles, three regionals, two semistate championship and the 2017 state championship.