Kyt Bonner is no stranger to basketball in Warren County.

The former Kyt Keen played hoops at Warren Central before a standout career at Mississippi College.

She’ll return to the courts not as a player, but as the new St. Aloysius’ girls basketball coach. The Flashes are still in search of a boys coach, athletic director Jim Taylor said.

Bonner replaces former coach Drew McBrayer who coached both squads the past two seasons before leaving Vicksburg for an assistant boys basketball position at New Hope High School.

&#8220I’m very excited. This is going to be a fun thing,” Bonner said.

Her biggest challenge will be juggling two jobs. Bonner is a licensed physical therapist and for the past 14 months has worked at United Rehab Associates in Vicksburg.

&#8220Physical therapy is my profession, but I have a wonderful boss who has allowed me to have a very flexible schedule,” she said. &#8220I know I’m going to be away a lot once the season begins. But for now, I’ll do the physical therapy in the morning and then go to practice in the afternoon.”

The Mississippi High School Activties Association does allow schools to hire either retired or other professionals, called para-professionals, to fill coaching vacancies.

The Lady Flashes were one of the top Class 1A teams in Mississippi for much of the 2005-06 season. They compiled a 26-2 regular season record and won the District 6-1A title before stumbling in the post-season to finish 26-4.

Besides McBrayer, also gone from that team is leading scorer Annie Beaugh and her twin sister, senior point guard Amy Beaugh. Annie has walked-on at Delta State University while Amy is on academic scholarship at Southern Miss.

The Lady Flashes return All-County forward Sarah Kerut along with two other starters in center Bonney Neill and guard Elizabeth Mazzanti.

Warren Central girls coach Donny Fuller said his former player will bring a strong work ethic to the St. Al program.

&#8220She was a hard-nosed player who worked really hard,” Fuller said of Bonner. &#8220I can still remember her battling Amy Williams, this 6-foot-6 girl from Cleveland East Side in the JPS Tournaments back in the mid-90s. Kyt helped us make a sandwich out of that big girl.

&#8220I think she’ll do a great job for St. Al. She’s an intelligent young lady,” Fuller said.

Bonner hopes that St. Al’s recent success can help the team make the transition.

&#8220They have a close-knit team there and they love the game which is something you have to have. They just need structure,” Bonner said.