CARTERVILLE — To say Todd Rogers has had a lot on his plate probably is an understatement.

Rogers is back for a second tour as the Carterville girls basketball head coach–in addition to being the high school’s principal, during a pandemic–in addition to serving on the IHSA’s board of directors.

“Probably not the best time to be elected into that position,” Rogers joked. “But that board has really good people that are looking out for kids’ best interests.”

Rogers, who is the only representative on the board from south of Springfield and one of only three from schools with an enrollment of less than 1200, made the trip to Bloomington last Wednesday to be in person for the Board of Directors meeting to decide the timelines for the rest of the school year.

“Felt like our hands were a little bit tied, but we made the best out of it. I think we pulled off some pretty good things. Nothing is going to satisfy everybody as my inbox will tell you, but (I’m) actually getting a couple of positive emails about getting opportunities for the kids God willing we stay healthy and we keep being able to go through that whole process.”

“It’s been a challenge.”

Rogers coached the Lady Lions for ten seasons starting in 2003. After spending the past two years helping at the junior high level, Rogers returns to the high school sideline to take over for Matt Crain who stepped down after seven highly successful seasons.

“Getting back to coaching is real beneficial to me because you get to know a kid at a different level,” Rogers said. When you’re in the principal role, it’s different. The best part of my school day is being able to come down here and see these kids. They’re pretty excited about having the opportunity to play. It’s worth the extra time and the effort. It’s busy, but it’s a good busy.”

Carterville won 31 games last year and finished 3rd at the 2A State Tournament. While the big three from last year’s club–Megan Barton, Abbey Crain, and Jeniah Thompson all graduated, the cupboard certainly is not bare in Carterville.

“Last year was great,” Rogers said. “It was great for the school. It was great for the community. It was great for everybody, but those three young ladies from last year walked out the door with about four thousand points and lots of experience. They’re college athletes, and those don’t always come around, but there are some good pieces, including a couple kids with some significant varsity time.”

Rogers inherits a pair of returning starters–senior Averi Vanderzille and multi-talented junior Alecia Doyle, who averaged just less than 11 points a game last year and already has offers from SIU and Illinois-Chicago.

“Obviously we miss Abbey, Jeniah, and Megan a lot, and they were big aspects to our team,” said Vanderzille. “We’re kinda young, but we’re ready to work those younger girls and get them into varsity games. Coach has told us some people that haven’t had varsity minutes are gonna have to be big players in the games, so think we’ll be fine. I’m excited to see how this team grows this season.”

“It’s (my role) changed significantly,” said Doyle. “I have to handle the ball. I have to help my teammates be in certain spots try to leave everyone. It’s changed a lot.”

When asked if she was up to the challenge, Doyle quickly said “I am!”

Two weeks ago, the prospects of any type of basketball season were bleak. Now the Lady Lions find themselves just days away from their season opener Wednesday night at home against Fairfield.

“It came all of a sudden,” Doyle said. “We’re gonna try our hardest when we go out there Wednesday and give it our all.”

“Even a week ago, we didn’t think we’d be able to have a chance to practice anymore for our senior year,” said Vanderzille. “We’re taking every day as a blessing because we know any day that it could be taken away from us, but this is awesome, and we’re all so excited.”

For Rogers, this season will be unlike any of his previous years as head coach.

“I think the hashtag is “let them play,” and the key word is play,” Rogers said. “So I’m probably thinking about this season more differently than any season I’ve ever coached just because I think it’s important mental health-wise and everything else just to get the kids out here and play.”

And that’s what they’ll do starting Wednesday night.