Is Bootheel basketball bouncing back?

After several down years, it looks like basketball in the Bootheel may finally be starting to turn the corner.

In the last few years, the struggles of the area's teams have been nearly legendary. Twenty-loss seasons, long losing streaks, blowout losses and -- in some cases -- low numbers have been an all-too-familiar story for many teams in the Bootheel.

But that may be starting to change.

The Kennett Indians and Lady Indians have recorded their first winning seasons in several years this winter -- and the Tribe is still alive in the hunt for a district title.

While the Indians will lose eight seniors after this season, the Lady Tribe has just two and can return four starters, giving hope that this year's 16-8 record is just the beginning of a long run of success.

Kennett isn't the only place where the tide seems to be turning, though.

The Senath-Hornersville Lady Lions finished 11-11 this season, winning nine of their last 13 games and playing Portageville -- the No. 1 team in the state in Class 2 -- close in a season-ending loss on Tuesday.

Like Kennett, the Lady Lions didn't feature a lot of seniors this year, and with district powers Portageville and Campbell losing several starters to graduation, 2010 could be Senath-Hornersville's year.

Even Holcomb, which won just two games this season, had an eighth-grade team that won its conference and has Hornet fans looking forward to the next few years. Also, coach Seth McBroom has a track record as a winner both as a player and a coach, so it may just be a matter of time in Holcomb before the wins return.

Baseball season: With snow still on the ground (as of Wednesday afternoon) and basketballs still bouncing on the courts, it's hard to believe that baseball is just around the corner.

In fact, the first preseason poll is already out and one Bootheel team -- the Cooter Wildcats -- are regarded as the state's best.

With a team led by senior standouts Aaron McCaig and Parker Watkins, the Wildcats are the No. 1 team in Class 1 in the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association preseason poll.

Meanwhile, optimism is high in Kennett, where the Indians lost just two starters to graduation and have three years of junior-high conference champions on the high school level.

Among this year's incoming freshmen are several members of Kennett's 2006 Cal Ripken state runner-up team, including Adam Grantham and Daniel Lockhert.

Standing in the way of the Tribe's second district title in the last four seasons are Dexter and Cape-Notre Dame, the latter of which is ranked No. 2 in the Class 3 MHSBCA preseason poll.

Also from the diamond...: Just when you thought the rivalry between the Kennett Lady Indians and the Senath-Hornersville Lady Lions couldn't get any more intense, the Lady Lions pulled the upset of the year last May in the finals of the Bootheel Conference Tournament, denying Kennett a perfect spring season and a sweep of the league trophies.

With most of their key players from last season returning, look for the Lady Tribe and Senath-Hornersville to once again battle for supremacy in the area and in the Bootheel Conference.

In the Tri-County, keep an eye on Holcomb and Southland. The Lady Hornets lost several solid hitters but return pitcher Jenna McKuin, while Southland returns several key players of its own, led by the battery of Becca Bakich and Darcy McMinn.

One thing is certain: it's just 18 days until it's time to "Play ball!"

Mike Buhler is the sports editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat. Contact him at mbuhler@dddnews.com