Top 10 Jackson-area story lines for the 2018-19 school year
School has started, and Monday marks the first official day for girls soccer, volleyball and football to start games.Here are 10 story lines to keep an eye on this year:
1. Can Greenfield repeat after winning the Class A girls basketball state championship in 2018?
The Lady Yellowjackets won the program's first state title last season behind the play of Miss Basketball finalists Tess Darby and Chloe Moore. But three senior starters graduated.
2. Can Haywood football remain one of the top Class 4A teams in Tennessee and make the state championship game?
The Tomcats reached the Class 4A semifinals last year, and 15 starters are back, including All-West Tennessee Offensive Player of the Year Decourtney Reed.
More: Haywood tries to live up to lofty expectations
3. How will Haywood boys basketball perform under first-year coach Oliver Simmons with high expectations?
The Tomcats reached the Region 8-AA semifinals last year with a young team under Kendall Dancy. With Simmons moving from USJ to Haywood, the key will be how quickly the team buys into his philosophy.
4. How does South Side football follow up last year's 8-5 season and berth in the Class 4A quarterfinals?
Going from 1-9 in 2016 to 8-5 in 2017 was a big turnaround for the Hawks' program. But with the graduation of a large senior class, staying on top of Region 6-4A won't be easy.
More: Devin Bowers flourishing at LB despite size
5. How does USJ girls basketball play after losing now MTSU guard Anna Jones two years ago and Miss Basketball winner Ashton Hulme last year?
Jones was a Miss Basketball finalist for three seasons, while Hulme became the program's first winner. This year's team will have to rely even more on the team concept.
6. After peaking at the right time in 2017, can South Side boys basketball stay on top in West Tennessee and return to the Class AA state tournament?
The Hawks finished No. 4 in District 14-AA during the regular season, but they won seven straight games to return to the state tournament. They will have to replace Bryce McBride, but they do have talented players back.
More: South Side underclassmen focused on return trip
7. With all three of its top pitchers graduating, including All-West Tennessee Player of the Year Raleigh Odle, how good can Riverside baseball be?
Replacing Odle, Spencer Odle and Owen Bartholomew will be tough to do. But there were some younger players put in clutch situations last year who should become leaders.
8. Can Milan boys basketball show improvement this season under first-year coach Kendall Dancy?
Dancy left Haywood after winning the program's only state championship in 2015. Milan went 8-23 last year. While Milan won't be a state title contender immediately, Dancy will try to get this program back to .500.
9. After an early exit from the 2017 state tournaments, can West Tennessee softball make a run this season at Spring Fling?
West Tennessee went 1-10 in the softball state tournaments with the one win coming from Dyersburg. But there was plenty of young talent in West Tennessee ready to give it another try this year.
10. How many state titles in running does the Dresden pair of Loral Winn and Anna Johnson win?
The total was four last year. Johnson won the Small Class cross country state championship and gold in the 3200-meter run. Winn won the 800-meter run and 1600-meter run, while finishing second in cross country.
More: Dresden's Johnson named All-West Tennessee runner of the year
More: Dresden's Winn named All-West Tennessee track athlete of the year
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.