After a fifth-straight trip to the District Championship last season, the South Greene Rebels are headed into the 2026-27 season with a nucleus of returning talent ready to showcase their talents on the hardwood.
“I’m just as excited as I’ve ever been. This is my joy right here. Had some things that have worked against us, but I’m still excited to coach and be around good kids and I’m still competitive. So, let’s get it going,” South Greene Head Coach Terry Hoese expressed.
It’s year 27 now for Head Coach Terry Hoese. After finishing 17-13 (6-4) and reaching the District Championship last season, the Rebels are looking to build upon that success and carry it over into this season.
The Rebels endured an injury-riddled football season and it seems to have carried over into Coach Hoese’s roster. Seniors Noah Wright and Eli Fillers, two potential starters, suffered ACL tears on the gridiron. Freshman Camden Marshall and sophomore Dawson Ripley also suffered injuries and will miss significant time. That puts four of South Greene’s eleven rostered players on the injury list to begin the season.
“Obviously, we’ve been punished with some bad injuries,” Coach Hoese stated. “This is year 27 and I’ve never had a kid miss a season with a torn ACL and hear I am with two of them.”
It’s been the same story for South Greene over the past five seasons. The region semifinals have plagued the Rebels. South Greene comes so close to earning a sectionals game and a one-game playoff for the State Tournament, but year-after-year it’s the region semis that always stands in South Greene’s way. Whether it be Gatlinburg-Pittman or Austin-East, the Rebels always seem to run into trouble.
The Rebels have appeared in five-straight District Championship Games and have won three of the last five titles. South Greene has set the pedigree as one of the top teams in the league and one of the hardest up beat.
When the season ended last year Gavin Dyer, Jameson White, and Simon Burns were all in the starting lineup. All three are back and healthy this season and are expected to be in the starting lineup again when the season begins.
Gavin Dyer and Simon Burns lead a senior class featuring four players, although both are the only healthy seniors. Noah Wright and Eli Fillers join them as the other two seniors.
Jameson White and Alex Leon are the only juniors listed and round out the list of upperclassmen for the Rebels.
Turner Hawk leads a small sophomore class of three players. Jaxen Taylor and Dawson Ripley join him in that group. The only two freshmen on this year’s varsity roster are Camden Marshall and Kason Justice.
South Greene’s projected starting lineup will feature Gavin Dyer, Jameson White, Simon Burns, Alex Leon, and Turner Hawk.
“It’s a decent little roster. We’ll look to compete. I don’t know where we’ll wind up, but we’ll come ready to play every day,” Coach Hoese mentioned.
Coach Hoese’s goals this season are the same as previous year. Win 20+ games, win the conference, and reach the sectionals round.
The District 1-2A conference could be as deep as ever in its five-year life span this season. The Rebels are joined by West Greene, Chuckey-Doak, Johnson County, Happy Valley, and last year’s undefeated defending champs Unicoi County.
“It’s a stacked league. And whoever wins this thing the chances are they will not be undefeated. It ought to be very competitive. I do expect to compete. It’ll be a tough battle pretty much night in and night out,” Hoese explained.
The non-district schedule will see the Rebels compete against North Greene, Tennessee High, Grainger, University High, and David Crockett.
South Greene will compete in three tournaments this season. The Rebels return to the Hardee’s Classic over Thanksgiving week at David Crockett High School. The Rebels will travel back to Cherokee High School for the Big H BBQ Classic and back to Pensacola, Florida for the Innisfree Classic on Christmas break.
The season kicks off on Saturday, November 21st at Tennessee High in Viking Hall for a Hall of Fame game.
“I enjoy competing. I enjoy preparing to compete and trying to figure out ways to give my team a little bit of an edge. Our jobs are cut out for us, but I’m ready to get going,” Coach Hoese exclaimed.
