Joe White returns for his senior year as one of Benton’s top players from 2009. Win or lose November 5, the Benton Academy's boys basketball team faces a bigger mountain to climb since all but a few players play football and the squads season opener is November 8 against Tallulah.

For new head coach Richard Perry the 2010 season hasn’t even started.

“We got a young team this year, but I think we’ll be okay,” Perry said who makes his return to varsity basketball since 2006. “I’ve got some good athletes. We are going to be slow out of the gates, but you see that a lot in these small schools.”

The Raiders return two starters from last season on a team that was bounced from the first round of the playoffs by Tri-County and finished with a 13-14 record.