By Alex Benzegala
Panhandle Post
The Alliance boys and girls' basketball both feel that they have a good blend of young and veteran players to have strong seasons, with the girls bringing back key players from last year's team that fell just one game short of the Class-B State Tournament.
The Bulldogs have four seniors, Jaelynne Clarke, Haylie Winter, Cierra Hudson and Regan Braun three of which started last season.
Clarke was an all-conference performer in 2022, averaging 12.7 PPG and feels this team has the makings to be special.
"I think last year we came out and shocked everybody, this year we're excited to come out, compete and show them who we are."
On the boy's side, Alliance feels like they have the potential to make a deep post-season run thanks to their returning starters in Tristen Timbers, Seth Meyring and Espen Lanik. Landen Crowe and newcomer Fillipo Bandera, a foreign exchange student from Italy round out the frontcourt for Alliance.
The season opener for both teams is tonight, Friday starting at 5:30 with the girl's game and the boys to follow at 7. Coverage of both games will be on KCOW and Panhandlepost.com, with pregame coverage estimated for 5:15.