New head coach Rich Williams will be making his debut this season with the Sparta Bulldogs that went 8-22 last season.
The squad returns three starters, seniors David Sams (5'9), Dartanus White (6'0), and Maurice Austin (5'9).
The Bulldogs will once again be a quick team, but like the past few seasons—they will be small. “We possess some athleticism and hopefully we can parlay that into some good basketball,” said Williams. “Our big concern is our lack of size, but this team is used to being undersized.
While Sams, White and Austin will see the most minutes out on the perimeter, Sparta will rotate quite a few guys in the post.
“Blake Shelton is only about 6’0 but he is strong and we will try him down in the post,” added Williams. “Blake can also shoot the ball well and can be a touch matchup for teams. Weslen Kiner (6’4 junior) is our tallest player and he has good potential. He just needs to continue to grow as a basketball player.”
Senior Tyler Kiefer (6’0) and junior London Oliver (6’0) are also expected to see a lot of time in the post for Sparta this season.
Besides Sams, White and Austin, Jordan Thompson (6’0 junior), Detrick Woods (5’9 senior), Austin Peck (5’11 sophomore), and Adam White (5’10 junior) are all expected to contribute to the varsity team on the perimeter.
“Our guards are very quick,” said Williams. “We have some experience back and their play should really be a plus for us. D. White and Austin have to be able to lead this team on both ends of the floor. Sams is a very quick talented guard who can score in bunches. We have to just put all these things together and play as a team. We also have pretty good depth as we will go eight to nine deep most nights.”
Sparta is preparing for another tough battle through the Southern Illinois River-to-River Mississippi Division this season.
“Nashville will be tough and Du Quoin is loaded athletically,” said Williams. “Those are probably the top two teams right now, but you can never count out Pinckneyville. After that it is anybody’s guess. This conference is really, really good this year from top to bottom.”
Williams started his basketball coaching career in Coulterville as head coach from 1986 to 1987. Then he headed south to help Mike Crews at Anna-Jonesboro for a few years before heading over to Pinckneyville to work under Dick Corn. Williams then went to Hardin County to serve as an assistant coach.
Williams spent the next seven years at Elverado where he was athletic director and served as head coach for basketball and baseball during his tenure. After that stint, Williams came to Sparta to help Ed Belva for five years and  went back to Pinckneyville to work with Corn again and Bob Waggoner.
“First of all, Richie really enjoys coaching and he enjoys the players,” said Corn. “He has a wonderful work ethic, is very enthusiastic and has very good knowledge of the game. He has all the attributes you look for in a coach. I have never been around anyone who was a better scout of other teams and he really didn’t get the credit he deserved, because his scouting really helped us succeed in the years he was here.”
Williams will be looking to get the Bulldogs over the hump as they haven’t won a regional title since 1991, and its last conference title was in 1983.
“I am hoping that this team will be exciting to watch as we will use our athletic ability to our advantage,” added Williams. “We have to get people back out to watch Sparta basketball. I hope this community can get behind this group of boys. Our goal will be to win and put people back in the seats. Fan support is very important in high school basketball.”
Williams, who also served as head football coach for the Bulldogs several years ago, takes over for Greg Bass, who coached the Bulldogs the past two seasons.
William’s coaching staff includes Jeff Bolwby as assistant coach, Jonathan Norton as sophomore coach, Mitch North as freshmen coach, Tommy Craig as assistant coach, and Tim Baum as assistant coach.