The motto of the Cherokee County Warrior basketball team is “Work hard, hate losing.”

If things develop the way third-year head coach Shane Reid hopes, losing won’t be something the Warriors experience much during the 2008-09 season.

Gone are last year’s top performers in Chai Cowser (18.7 points) and Nick Wheeler (18.1 points), but there are several players on the Warrior roster with raw talent who could come into their own this season.

“This year’s team is extremely talented, but inexperienced,” Reid said. “We only have four out of 12 players having varsity basketball experience. If this team matures quickly, then this will be a very fun group to watch.”

Returning from last season’s Northeast Regional team that went 23-11 are guards Coty Blanchard and Tyler Stubbs. Blanchard, a junior, averaged 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season. Stubbs, a senior, tallied 5.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per outing.

Bolstering Blanchard and Stubbs’ talents on the court this season are a pair of other veteran players in junior forward D.J. Fife and junior guard Gabriel Chambers.

Fife averaged 3.5 boards last season while Chambers averaged a little over an assist per game.

Senior JaMichael Andrews, juniors Desmond Brown, Caleb Crane, Caleb Hays, Colin Perry, Moryet Chambers and Keon Rucker, and sophomore Brett Burgess will also be expected to play significant roles this season if the Warriors are to return to the regionals.

Cherokee County competes in Class 4A, Area 12 along with Alexandria, Hokes Bluff and Jacksonville.

The following is a preview of the 2008-09 season for all the teams in The Herald’s coverage area:

Cedar Bluff Tigers

Last season’s end left a bitter taste in the Tigers mouths. Sure, they went an impressive 22-5, but their season came to a halt after losing to Spring Garden in the opening round of the area tournament.

While head coach Joe Carpenter hopes that will serve as some motivation, he also knows the Tigers’ area will be solid. Cedar Bluff is joined in Class 1A, Area 12 with Asbury, Collinsville and Gaston along with county foes Spring Garden and Gaylesville.

Carpenter expects a big year from sophomore guard Marcus Reese. He also expects another solid season from sophomore forward Tyric Scales.

Scales averaged 21 points, 8.3 rebounds and two assists last season. He was an honorable mention on the Class 1A All-State team.

“Marcus should have a breakout year,” Carpenter said. “He’s matured and had a great off-season. Tyric can do it all. We’ll play him at guard and forward.”

Another returning starter from last season is junior forward Jim Nelson. Carpenter said Nelson has “great instincts and is a great rebounder.”

Top newcomers to the Tigers are senior forward Seth Gordon and sophomore forward Tony McGinnis.

Bolstering the forward positions are junior Kai Wen, sophomore Trey Jordan, freshman Evan McBurnett and eighth grader DeAngelo Hardy.

Giving depth at guard are junior Kyle Crane, sophomore Kyle Beck and eighth grader Terrence Scales. Sophomore K.C. Quarles adds depth at point guard.

Gaylesville Trojans

Sophomore guard Luke Murphy, junior guard/forward Nick Reed and senior guard Cain Higgins are expected to carry the load for the Trojans this season.

Junior Caleb Leach is expected to hold down one of the forward positions in addition to center. Senior Caleb McCord is also expected to play double duty at forward and guard.

James Van Pelt, Levi Morgan and Zac Cavin will add depth at guard.

Gaylesville competes in Class 1A, Area 12 with Asbury, Cedar Bluff, Collinsville, Gaston and Spring Garden.

Sand Rock Wildcats

Senior guard Justin Mackey will help anchor the Wildcats for second-year head coach Brian Mackey. Justin Mackey averaged 10 points, five rebounds and three assists last season.

Joining Justin Mackey in the front court is sophomore guard Brannon Burt. Burt averaged eight points, two assists and a steal per game last season.

Junior Cliff Bailey and sophomores Justin Kyser and Cody Beck give the Wildcats depth at guard. Senior Garrett McGinnis and junior Matt Cole will line up at forward. Junior Chase Brisendine will be at center.

Sand Rock plays in Class 2A, Area 12 with Geraldine, West End and Westbrook Christian.

Spring Garden Panthers

New head coach Stan Jones seeks to replace two key cogs from last year’s Northeast Regional team in Andrew Morris and Cliff Highfield. Both players averaged double figures in points and rebounds per game last season.

However, Spring Garden does return five players with varsity playing experience. Those five are senior Andrew Allen, juniors Jake Scott and Trey Littlefield, and sophomores Caleb Morris and Tyler Smart.

The Panthers’ lineup will be bolstered by seniors Zach Porter and Matthew McCurdy, juniors Casey Steward, David Smith, Ethan Black and Caleb Littlejohn, and sophomore Andrew Maddox.

The Panthers compete in Class 1A, Area 12 with Asbury, Cedar Bluff, Collinsville, Gaston and Gaylesville.

Collinsville Panthers

The Panthers look to get another strong season out of three-year starter Robert Gray.

Gray, a senior guard, averaged 20 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game to help lead the Panthers (16-11) to the Northeast Regionals last season.

Joining Gray at guard is senior Trey Jones. Top newcomers to the lineup include junior forward Sharrard Crawley and junior center Kenny Orr.

Adding depth to the guard positions will be junior Justin Gregory, sophomore Quintin Coker and freshman Nathan Coker. Sophomore Ryan Chamblee will split time at forward and guard.

Sophomore Tyler Tidmore adds depth at forward while junior Bubba Berry adds depth at center.

“We’re very inexperienced, but shooting should be a strength,” Collinsville coach Jon Tidmore said. “We’re also in a tough area.”

Collinsville competes in Class 1A, Area 12 along with Asbury, Cedar Bluff, Gaston, Gaylesville and Spring Garden.

Piedmont Bulldogs

Things came around late last season for the Bulldogs (16-15), which made a run to the Northeast Regionals before falling to White Plains.

Third-year head coach Tommy Lewis lost all five starters from the Bulldogs’ last game, but Lewis notes several players return this season with starting experience.

One of those players returning is senior guard Marquise Diamond. Diamond averaged 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds last season. Junior point guard Christian Cantrell also returns to the lineup after averaging 2.6 assists a year ago.

Other expected starters senior guards Anthony Angle and Chris Griffie, along with forwards Daniel Hammett and Tay Holloway.

Giving the Bulldogs depth are juniors Terrick Spear, Adam Hammett, Cory Sears and Austyn Grissom. Sophomores Jamal Johnson, Deion Ammons and Derrick Jackson round out the team.

“This team could be quick, but we’re small,” Lewis said. “We’re also in a tough area, but the key could be if our team gels and our leadership develops.”

Piedmont competes in Class 3A, Area 10 with Glencoe, Pleasant Valley, Weaver and White Plains.