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By MIKE MATHISON
WINTERSVILLE -- You know what you're getting when you step on the basketball court against the Indian Creek boys and longtime coach Joe Dunlevy.
This year will be no different.
The only difference will be the faces playing tight man defense and taking charges.
Leading the way is senior Greg Wade, a four-year letterman and three-year starter. He will be alongside fellow senior Austin Freshwater, a three-year letterman and two-year starter, and juniors Andy Waggoner and Nick Crawford, who lettered and were part-time starters last season.
The fifth starter will be junior Austin Yaich, who also lettered last season.
"I think early in the year people may be saying who are these guys because Greg is the only one who has been a scorer on the varsity level to this point," Dunlevy said. "We will try to build on the success of the football program."
The first players off the bench will be junior Wyatt Pugh, sophomore Derrick Eakle, sophomore Brennon Norris and sophomore Austin Judson -- all played on the reserve team last year. Also working to break in the lineup are senior Donald Brown, sophomore Moe Brown, sophomore Mike Allan and freshmen Trevor Fante and Brock Lucas.
"It has been a blast coming to practice with this group," Dunlevy said. "They will represent their school and community in a positive way. The fact that after a long football season and a playoff appearance our football players were anxious to join their teammates in the gym, is a positive sign.
"Some were there the Saturday after the playoff game and the rest were there Monday. A few years back we had a group like this and I made the statement that they are going to be a good team at some point, I just don't know when. Same with this group.
"They play very hard and love the game and work at it on their own. Those intangibles are what is needed to be successful in any program."