WINDSOR—The word with Windsor High School basketball this year is improvement. The boys’ and girls’ team combined for five wins all of last season.

The Windsor boys’ program has shown slow improvement over the past two years, and head coach Jeff Hampton would like to see that trend continue.

“Quite often in the past, Windsor has had seasons with no wins. Two years ago we won four. Last year, we won five,” Hampton said. “So the goal is to step it up past five. Six wins or more.”

The Dukes will be competing in a tough Tri-Rivers District with Surry County, last year’s Region A Division 1 champs, and potentially improved Franklin and Sussex Central teams.

The Dukes are starting Kwadrea Harris at point guard, Clay Copeland at shooting guard, Muhammed Robinson at forward and Tony Walker at center. Oris Bowers, who has been injured, will play small forward. Other players seeing action are Rashad Bullock, Aaron Clements, Jeffrey Jordan and R.J. Edwards.

Hampton said his team will run a swing offense against a man-to-man defense and a gate offense against a zone.

“We are trying to slow the game down. When we get into the running game, we create turnovers for ourselves,” Hampton said. “When we slow it down, we get a better shot.”

Walker has benefited from the offensive set so far. He poured in 28 points in a recent game against Rappahannock and has consistently scored in double figures.

On defense, the Dukes will use 1-3-1 half-court pressure and drop back into a zone — either 3-2, 2-1-2 zone or a box-and-one.

The girls’ team, winless last year, may have trouble improving much with its top player out for the season. Alicia Evans suffered a concussion against Greenbrier Christian last week.

“That changes our whole scenario and game plan,” said Holly Andreski, in her first year as girls’ head coach at Windsor but who coached 15 years in Texas.

Starting at this point in the season are center Taylor Gay, forward Delydia Lawrence and guards Whitney Searcy, Lyndee Spencer and Shana Sharp. Also seeing playing time are Monique Holland and Quatisha Harris. Andreski said three players are injured, a player moved, and she has had to bring another player up from the junior-varsity team.

The Lady Dukes will run a motion offense and try to work the ball into the post. On defense, Windsor likes to run a man-to-man depending on the opponent but will also switch back to zone.

As far as the Tri-Rivers District, Andreski said the Lady Dukes are hoping to hang with Surry and Sussex Central in an otherwise tough league.