It took some reshuffling of basketball staff at WCMS, but the Lady Pioneers finally have their coaches in place for the 2024-25 season. Macy Harrell Rasori will be taking over the sixth-grade team, while Grace Rains – last year’s sixth-grade coach – is moving up to fill the role as 7-8 grade coach.
Rains, 23, is stepping up to the challenge after Zach McCrary left the program less than two months after being hired. McCrary was selected as coach in May, but WCMS athletic director Betsy McBride noted he “decided to go a different career route,” when he left after setting the roster and taking the team to two camps in June.
The girls program has had a revolving door of coaches since Mendy Stotts’ departure in 2023, with Jeff Chisam leading the program last year before resigning in the spring. Rains will be the fourth coach in the last three seasons for the team when she leads the group onto the court this winter.
“I feel really excited and grateful for the opportunity. I am excited for the competitiveness which comes with the older group. It is a good step forward in my coaching career and I’m excited for this upcoming season with this group on girls,” said Rains.
Tyra Wright, a former Lady Pioneer who signed a D1 scholarship and played at Charleston Southern, is expected to be on the bench with Rains this year. Wright and Rains were teammates on WCMS and WCHS before both graduated in 2019 following all-district seasons as Lady Pioneers.
“I’m very excited to coach with my one of my best friends and teammates. I think we are a good mix and we will work well together to make the girls the best they can be,” said Rains.
Rasori’s willingness to step onto the sidelines gave Rains the opportunity to bump up to the 7-8 grade team. The new coach will be embarking on a new journey on the hardwood and is happy to be getting back into the game.
“I am very excited for this new opportunity to coach the sport I have loved since I was a little girl. I find the job intimidating, but exciting at the same time,” said Rasori. “I am very young, but have great eagerness to grow as a coach, educator and person in the process. I hope to help the program create better athletes with a great ambition to excel in not only basketball, but in life.”
Basketball games will begin in November.
