Changes are in store for the Enterprise basketball programs in the 2017-2018 season. Chief among them is boy’s coach Shane Adams pulling double duty as he takes over the girl’s program from longtime head coach Jill Nations. Nations stepped away from the bench after leading the Lady Jackets for 12 seasons.

“With my girls (twins Jana and Carlee Nations) being seniors this year, I just really wanted to be Momma instead of coach and get to enjoy watching them play their final season,” said Nations.

Last season Nations led a squad that got off to one of the hottest starts of any team in the area. A 12-2 record before Christmas, which included wins over Bogue Chitto and West Lincoln, would eventually wilt to a 15-11 (3-8 in district) record when injuries hit hard.

Lost to graduation were Courtney Greer (10 points and 3.7 rebounds per game) and Michelle Herrington (7.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game). Adams inherits a team that will be led by a quintet of seniors in Jana Nations, Carlee Nations, Eden Ward, Karlee Burgess and Monisha Pendleton.

Carlee Nations returns as the team’s leading scorer after averaging 14.9 points per game last season. Carlee Nations and Pendleton both missed significant time last season due to injury.

Adams sees the district as being a competitive one with Bogue Chitto moving in this season. Enterprise will host the district tournament and will also host the county tournament. This year with all four county schools being in the same district, the county tournament has been altered to be an invitational. Each school will play two games during the tournament against non-county competition.

On the boy’s side, Adams must do something that no Enterprise coach has had to do since Elwood Brown graduated in the late ’90s — replace a District MVP that averaged over 20 points per game. Gone is Dwayne Pendleton and his 22.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The dynamic guard was the linchpin on a Jacket team that finished 13-16, which was the most wins since 2009-2010. Enterprise came very close to shocking the entire state in the opening round of the 2A state playoffs before losing 59-54 to powerhouse Newton on the road.

Adams must replace five seniors in all, including Zach Hodges (5.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg) and Darren Richardson (5.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg). Adams’ most experienced senior this season will be Cade Feltus (6.1 ppg).

Adams also hopes that junior Peytin Jergins can help carry some of the scoring load. With such a young and inexperienced team, his hope is the team will grow as the season progresses.

“We’re going to be young and will have to learn on the go,” said Adams.