Head coach Paul Hayles will have a difficult time trying to get the 2000-2001 Adams County Christian School Rebels basketball team to bounce back from a disappointing season in 1999-2000.

The Rebels were 6-16 overall, 0-8 in MPSA District South 4A and lost to Jackson Prep in the South State Tournament last season.

&uot;We were very competitive in a number of games, but we just couldn’t pull out victories,&uot; Hayles said.

ACCS will be playing in MPSA District South 4-3A this season with Central Private, Centreville and Silliman.

&uot;We’re down number-wise,&uot; he continued. &uot;I was disappointed that a couple of potential players are not going to be on the team.&uot;

He said that despite being small in numbers, the team has a &uot;good group&uot; of players who want to work together as a team.

&uot;On the positive side, we’ve got an All-District 4A point guard in Trey Mardis and three other players with experience returning in Ty Smith, Garrett Gamberi and Auri Jones,&uot; he said.

The small forward and center positions are &uot;going to have to be filled by committee,&uot; Hayles said.

He said MPSA District South 4-3A will be competitive.

&uot;We’ve jumped out of the pan and into the fryer,&uot; Hayles said of the new district.

&uot;Central Private’s going to compete for the Overall State title,&uot; he said. &uot;They’re that good.&uot;

&uot;Silliman’s has been in the later rounds of State in 3A the last two years and are very talented,&uot; he continued. &uot;Centreville always carries a high level of athleticism on their teams.&uot;

Hayles said the strengths of his team will be team unity and attitude and its greatest weakness will be depth.

The Rebels start their season tonight at the Rebel Gym when they host Wilkinson County Christian Academy. There will be three games starting at 5 p.m. The JV girls will play first, followed by the varsity girls and the varsity boys.