Panthers set to begin Blackwell-era

After 20 seasons under the direction of John Harder, the Morehead Panthers ushered in new head coach John Blackwell and he has the team poised to turn the corner as the season is set to begin in 10 days.
Blackwell, who was a former coach at Reidsville High School and a Harder assistant the past six seasons, is changing some of the schemes and styles at Morehead and it all began back in the summer.
“The summer is critical,” said Blackwell. “They all bought into how important it is and we played 20-22 games. It was especially important because we were transitioning in some different things.”
While the team may lack size, according to their first-year head coach, the Panthers do not lack athleticism.
Senior T.K. Kimber (forward), one of the few significant starters back from last season, leads an athletic group that includes fellow senior Chase Raiford (forward), juniors Jason Woodall (point guard), Juwaan Winfield (guard/forward), A.J. Artis (forward) and sophomore Quinton Neal (forward).
Blackwell knows, however, that it all starts with Woodall at the point guard position.
“Jason has such great court vision,” said Blackwell. “He really is the trigger for what we want to do.”
And what Blackwell wants his Panthers to do is get up and down the floor and play a more up-tempo style than in the past.
“We need to get to running,” he said. “We have good guards and good athletes and we have to take advantage of that.”
Winfield and Woodall both started last season – a season in which Morehead was 6-19, following a playoff appearance two years ago. There seems to be nowhere to go but up for the Panthers.
Neal, Artis, along with Kaleb Houchins, Shawnell Hairston and Tyler Shelton are all junior varsity call-ups from last season. Last season, the MHS JV team finished near the .500 mark.
Sophomore D.J. Hairston did not play last season and junior Pierce Moore transferred in from Rockingham County.
The rest of the MHS roster includes Justin Berlin, William Reynolds and Caleb Wade.
“I’m excited, we’re excited,” added Blackwell.
The Panthers lost six players from last year’s team – two to transfer. Matt Swartzlander moved over to McMichael High School and Bryson Adams transferred to Jamestown Ragsdale.
Despite the player movement and the switching of head coaches, Blackwell feels it is all going well.
“The kids know me and they know what to expect,” he said. “It’s a still a learning process, but we are ahead of where we were at this time last year.”
Assisting Blackwell will be Rusty Smith, Matt Brownback, Ali Travis and Steve Perkins. Perkins will be the junior varsity head coach.
Another transition for the Panthers will be from the old Triad 3-A Conference, which featured powerhouse Dudley, Northeast Guilford and up and coming Western Guilford. What remained were Northern Guilford, Western Alamance and Rockingham County along with newcomers McMichael, Eastern Alamance, Eastern Guilford, Burlington Williams.
“I think this is going to be a pretty solid conference,” said Blackwell. “A good basketball conference and there aren’t going to be many easy ones here.”
Morehead opens the season against Bartlett Yancey in a non-conference tilt Wednesday night.
Game-time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Eden.

2009-10 SCHEDULE
November
25 – Bartlett Yancey
December
1 – at Bartlett Yancey, 2 – Reidsville, 4 – at Magna Vista (Va.), 5 – Halifax County (Va.), 8 – Eastern Guilford*, 9 – at Reidsville, 11 – at McMichael*, 15 – at Eastern Alamance*, 17 – Burlington Williams*, 18 – Magna Vista (Va.), 29-31 – Register and Bee Holiday Shootout (Danville, Va.)
January
2 – Register and Bee Holiday Shootout (Danville, Va.), 5 – Northern Guilford, 8 – at Rockingham County*, 12 – Western Alamance*, 15 – at Eastern Guilford*, 22 – at Western Alamance*, 26 – McMichael*, 29 – Eastern Alamance*
February
2 – at Burlington Williams*, 5 – at Northern Guilford, 9 – Rockingham County*, 15-19 – Mid-State 3-A Conference Tournament (at higher seeds)