It might be hard to get excited about the boys’ basketball season when looking at the team’s recent history, but this year’s team hopes to change that. Head coach Billy Pitcher believes he will bring a successful season to the team for the first time in years. The success of the team can be broken down into four steps.

Step One

The first step to having a successful season, according to Pitcher, is to set up goals the team can rally around. With a record of 25-60 in the past three years, this year’s team has a goal to win at least half of their games.

“We want to continue to improve our record; before I came we were 3-24, my first year we went 7-20, and last year we were 15-16,” Pitcher said. “So we’re trying to continue to improve there and we want to finish higher in the conference.”

Pitcher is entering his third year of coaching at LZHS, and eleventh in his career. His experience has helped him take the team from the basement of the division to the middle of the pack, but he is not stopping there. He says the team is planning to be a top contender for the division this year. The team hopes to be successful by making noticeable changes to this year’s team. The team’s main objective is to continue their success once they get to the playoffs.

“[With the new offense], I think there’s a good chance we make the playoffs,” Mike Travlos, sophomore, said. “I’m not sure how far we’ll go in the playoffs, considering the conference we play in. There are some schools that are pretty tough this year, but I think we can be up there with them.”

Step Two

The next step the team is taking is to find their strengths and try to implement them into the game as much as possible. Pitcher has changed the offense from a more size-oriented game to a fast-paced, speed-focused offense. The coaches and players feel the change will be noticeable.

“We are going to be a much smaller team than in years past, but I think we will be better at handling the ball and shooting,” Ryan Roach, senior, said.

The switch will show off the team’s abilities to run, pass, and shoot the ball.

“We will be shooting a lot more three point shots. We will have more fast breaks compared to the past couple of years that have been more post-game, post-touches kind of games. So it’s going to be more up and down, a tight, fast-paced game,” Travlos said.

Pitcher believes the change will fit the team’s abilities very well.

“We want to base our system off of the personnel that we have. My first year we had more size, this year we don’t have that size, but we do have great guard play,” Pitcher said, “so we’re going to try to maximize the role of those guys. Being able to handle and shoot the ball is the most important part of our game, and we need everyone to be able to do that.”

Step Three

The third step to having a successful season is to put the correct players in the correct team roles. Although there are no appointed team captains yet, the players feel the leadership comes from within.

“I think everyone can be a leader on this team,” Travlos said. “We all work hard in the offseason, working out and playing whenever we can.”

The leaders on the team not only focus on the success of the team this year, but they also try to help the younger players on the team.

“[Being a leader] means a lot to me because I like to help out the younger kids on the team because I have experience to share with them,” Roach said.

Step Four

The final step to being successful this year is for the team to believe in themselves and know that the hard work they put in will pay off.

“Our boys have been playing hard, they’ve been working all the time, and if you come out and watch us, you’re going to see us put out a great effort,” Pitcher said.

The players believe this year will be more fun for the team and the fans.

“I think this year, we’re going to be better, a more exciting team, more energetic, and more fun to watch,” Travlos said.

Although the past is bleak, the future looks bright for the Bears, and according to Pitcher, the team is not done growing.

“We always want to play our best at the end of the season, and hopefully that’s what we do,” Pitcher said. “We’ve got a lot of good players, a lot of young players, and each year we’re getting better and better.”