Senior guard Landon Pace is the top returning scorer for Dawson Springs.
After winning 13 games last season, the Dawson Springs Panthers are setting even loftier goals this year.
“Our goal is 17-20 wins and win district,” noted Panther head coach Jim Hicks, who begins his second season on the Dawson bench.
Last year’s 13 wins were the second most for the Panthers in the last 21 seasons.
The 2016-17 Panthers were the last Dawson team with a winning record, going 17-16.
Prior to that, the 1998-99 Panthers turned in a 21-6 record.
Dawson Springs lost just two seniors off of last year’s 13-18 squad but a few other players elected not to return this season, mostly for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That leaves the Panthers few in numbers, but Hicks believes he will be able to compete with 6-7 solid players.
Seniors Landon Pace and Dylan Dawson turned in solid efforts last season and will become even bigger factors for the Panthers this year.
Pace, a guard whom Hicks says has college potential, shot 38.5 percent from 3-point range while netting 13.7 points a game.
Meanwhile, Dawson, a 6-foot-2 forward, totaled 10.8 points and 7.6 rebound a contest.
Senior guard Logan McKnight looks to take on a bigger role this season after scoring 5.1 points and grabbing two rebounds a game last year.
Junior Rett Nieters gives the Panthers a little more size inside at 6-2. He saw limited action a year ago, netting 1.3 points and 1.5 rebounds a contest.
The Skinner brothers, senior Austin and junior Dilyn, will also figure into the mix.
Dilyn Skinner averaged 2.7 points and 1.3 boards a year ago.
“We may not look like much, but experience and hard work will go far in a year like we have had,” said Hicks.
The Panthers will open the regular season a week later than most schools. The first game on the schedule is a home date against Crittenden County on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
The 2nd Region All ‘A’ Classic is then set for later that week.
