The boys basketball team faces a rough opening weekend by hosting Pike tonight and visiting Southport Saturday.

The boys firs two games were postponed due to the success of our football team so we go into tonight’s conference game against Pike with little practice while Pike is 2-1 and is coming off a 108-point effort against Fishers.

Coach Mark James answered the following questions about the upcoming season:

Q: How many football players play basketball and how have you adjusted to the late arrival.

A:  We have only had four practice times so far. I am not sure but it is hard to adjust when our most experienced player has been in football. Trying to get ready for a game and not getting to work enough on fundamentals is a problem right now. Six of our 18 players played football.

Q: What are you looking to get out of the game against Pike?

A: Our goals for each game are the same no matter who we play.  We are playing against ourselves to do our jobs and to control our attitudes and effort. Control the things we can.  We always need to take care of the ball, get stops and take great shots, shoot more Ft’s and win the rebound war.

Q: What are your goals and expectations for the entire season?

A: We have not had a chance to meet as a team yet to come up with our goals.  My goal is always the same:  beat everyone we are supposed to and beat a couple of teams no one thinks we can.  The hardest thing every year is to get team chemistry right. If we care about each other, are honest and committed to the Team and each other we can always be competitive.  Improve and be the best person you can be.

Q: How many returning players to varsity?

A: Five seniors:  Brennan Gillis, DeShon Tate, Jason Solomon, Tylor Shane, Stephon Matthews all played varsity last year. One junior in Ian Deiters played varsity also.