The 2023-2024 basketball season was memorable for Carmi-White County for both the Bulldogs and the Lady Bulldogs.
With 50 combined wins between the two programs last season, both teams have high expectations for what should be an exciting 2024-2025 season.
The Lady Bulldogs won 26 games last year, just one win shy of the school record. They went undefeated in the Black Diamond, and they went toe-to-toe in the Regional Championship game with the eventual 3rd Place team in state, Robinson.
It was the most successful campaign since the 2008-2009 season, when they were coached by Eric Dixon. After 14 years of coaching high school boys and junior high boys basketball, Dixon is back as the Lady Bulldogs head coach, a position he held from 2001-2010.
Dixon inherits a talented squad, with 5 returning players that saw significant varsity time in 2023-2024.
Ashlyn Rager is the lone senior. Rager started all 32 games last year while averaging 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Caroline Simmons and Addi Elliott also started every game last year as sophomores. Simmons averaged 10.7 points per game as she was a member of the BDC All-Conference team. Elliott was 3rd on the team in scoring behind Simmons and graduated senior Mara Serafini, averaging 8.5 point per game. Elliott was also 2nd amongst starters in 3-point percentage (behind Serafini), shooting 35.1% from behind the arc.
Torrie Rider and Jaya Smith played vital minutes off the bench for the Lady Bulldogs as sophomores, both look to step into starting rolls this season.
Natalie Goemaat, Ella Newell, and Eva Attebury are also expected to see time at the varsity level.
If anyone is curious as to how athletic and competitive this group of ladies is, they just finished the most successful season in CWCHS volleyball history. Although they graduated two experienced seniors (Serafini and Johanna Smith), the expectation is still the same.
“Expectations for me, are pretty high they’re high in every sport I coach,” said head coach Eric Dixon. “If we do things the right way in practice, they will translate to the game.”
Carmi has made some changes to their regular season schedule, in hopes to see some better competition before postseason play.
The Lady Bulldogs will not play in the Fairfield Merry Mule Christmas Tournament. They have also added non-conference matchups with Olney, Trenton-Wesclin, and Middleton, Tennessee (to be played at Calloway County, KY).
The Lady Bulldogs will begin their season this Thursday (11/21) at home against Lawrenceville. JV will begin at 6 PM, varsity to follow. Fans can watch and listen to the varsity game on 97.3 FM WRUL and the WRUL Sports YouTube Channel. Carmi will take part in the Harrisburg Preview Tournament the week of Thanksgiving.
The Carmi-White County boys basketball team is coming off their second consecutive 20+ win season. The Bulldogs finished 24-8 last year, which included their 2nd straight BDC Championship and CWCIT Championship, and a 3rd Place Finish at the EHT.
Kevin Wolff is entering his 10th season as the head coach of the Bulldogs. Wolff is currently 4th on the all-time wins list at CWCHS, with 149.
Wolff brings back 3 of his 5 starters from a season ago. Most notably, senior Mitchel Edwards.
Edwards averaged 14.5 points per game in his junior season, to go along with 6.8 rebounds per game, and shooting 35.3% from 3-point range and 74.1% from the free throw line. Edwards became just the 2nd player in CWCHS history to surpass the 1,000 career point mark in his junior year. Edwards enters this season with 1,106 points, just 402 from the all-time scoring record for boys basketball at CWC (Pat Greathouse). Edwards also broke the school record for most 3-pointers made in a career last season.
Senior Gavin Holloman enters his 4th year as a starting guard for the Bulldogs. Holloman averaged 13.2 points per game last season, with 3.5 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game as he was given an All-BDC nod. With Landon Driscoll graduated, Holloman takes over the role as the team’s main ball handler. Holloman is also getting close to a milestone, as he sits at 838 points in his career.
Senior Kade Stockton became a starter early last season. Stockton won’t light up the scorecard, but his effort and tenacity is why Kevin Wolff can’t take him off the floor. Stockton was 3rd on the team in rebounds with 151 (4.7 per game), 61 of those rebounds coming on the offensive end. Look for Stockton’s role to expand into the number 3 scoring option for the Bulldogs.
Senior Beck Huff looks to step into a varsity role this season. Huff saw limited varsity action last year, but was a JV starter throughout the entire season. Senior Cade Allen returns to the basketball court for the first time since his freshman year. Huff and Allen both bring speed and athleticism that can help Carmi’s backcourt.
Juniors Merrick Millhorn, Colton Marvin, and Hayden Sauls all have a chance to see a lot of varsity time this season. Millhorn played in 22 varsity games as a sophomore, he scored 14 points on 6/14 shooting.
Sophomores Jaxon Bradshaw and Dylan Winerberger will get their opportunity as well to bring size to the post for the Dogs.
The Bulldogs will begin their season on November 26th as they host Gallatin County. They will then take part in the DuQuoin Tip-Off Classic the week after Thanksgiving.
