The Cathedral Green Wave basketball team will have an infusion of new blood this season with a new head coach and a transfer from another Natchez school.

The new head coach is Ken Beesley Jr., who will be coaching basketball for the first time in his life, he said.

&uot;We haven’t won district since Jarred West was a senior here 10 years ago,&uot; he said.

The 1999-2000 Green Wave went 11-14, including a loss to District 6-2A champion Loyd Star in the semifinals of the district tournament.

&uot;We have a small sophomore class and a big junior class,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;We’ll probably be better next year than we’ll be this year.&uot;

Cathedral has only one senior on this year’s team – Chris Collins (6-0, 213), who will start at center.

Other key players returning this year are a pair of juniors – Bart Lane (6-2, 160), who is projected to start at the wing position; and Willie Clark (5-10), who will be the starting point guard, Beesley said.

Also on the Green Wave team is junior Brady Hendrix, who transferred from Trinity and at 6-1 is expected to be the starting forward.

&uot;I don’t know who else will be in the starting lineup,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;We’ve only had five practices so far.&uot;

The other two juniors on Cathedral’s team are Larry Thomas and Reginald Gales (5-7, 170).

In addition to having five juniors, Cathedral will also have five freshmen on the team.

Beesley said rebounding – not inexperience – will be the team’s biggest weakness &uot;because we’re not that tall.&uot;

He said the strength of the team will be its speed. &uot;We’ll use a press and man-to-man defense that will lead to some turnovers.&uot;

He said the teams to beat in District 6-2A are Loyd Star and Hinds Agricultural High School.

&uot;Loyd Star will be tough this year,&uot; he said. &uot;Hinds has some good athletes, but they lost their coach last year, so I don’t know how they’ll be this year.&uot;

Cathedral’s season-opener will be on at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 at Monterey, La.