The tip off to the 2016-17 Lincoln County basketball season is still 18 days away, but Lady Patriot and Patriot fans can get an early sneak preview of the teams.
The Lincoln County faithful will get their first look at the new Lady Patriot and Patriot basketball teams Friday night, Nov. 11, as the LCHS program kicks off the season with its annual “Meet the Patriots” event.
Lady Patriot coach Cassandra McWhorter and Patriot coach Jeff Jackson will be introducing their latest squads at the annual “Meet the Patriots” and will be conducting brief scrimmages following their introductions.
The night’s activities begin with a chili supper at 5 p.m. in the upper gym lobby.  The chili supper will be followed by “Meet the Patriots” at 6:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
During “Meet the Patriots,” fans will be introduced to the Lincoln County Middle School cheer squad and sports teams, the high school band, cheerleaders, fall high school sports teams and varsity basketball teams. There will also be a varsity 3-point shooting contest.
The Lady Patriots, who finished 27-7 last season, return sophomore starters Emma King and Kaitlynn Wilks and senior starter Jenna King. Returning senior Logan Godbey also saw some varsity starts last season. Other Lady Patriots returning with varsity experience are sophomores Maddy Boyle, Zaria Napier and Haley Southerland and freshmen Trinity Shearer and Anna Lane.
The Lincoln girls, who have reigned as 45th District champions for seven out of the last eight years, took the title again last year and made it to the finals of the 12th Region Tournament where they fell to Mercer County.
The Patriots are coming off a season that saw them win the 45th District Tournament title for a third straight year. Lincoln bowed out of the 12th Region Tournament in the first round to finish 19-12 overall.
Graduation claimed two of Lincoln’s starting lineup, but senior starters Devin Alcorn, Tanner McAninch and Noah Young are all back for the 2016-17 season. Also returning with varsity experience are senior Carlos Nunez, juniors Garrett Clem, Nick Noland, Chase Phillips, Dalton Sebastian and TT Wilkinson and sophomores Cameron Britton, Sawyer Carrier, Chance McQreary, Blake Smith and Bryson Yaden.
Tickets for the chili supper and “Meet the Patriots” are $5. Tickets only for “Meet the Patriots” are $1.