Seniors ready for action this season

The Washington Demon boys? basketball team makes their debut for the 2016-17 season with four seniors Tuesday evening at Muscatine under new coach, Collin Stark.

?I like him,? senior Bryce Sinnn said. ?We have a lot different practice schedule this year than last year. We do a lot more fundamental stuff [and] defense. There [is a] big emphasis on defense this year.?

The seniors Sinn, Tanner Coleman, John Dillon and Mason Rich also have taken their roles as leaders of the team seriously.

?We have leadership classes, so everybody gets together and bonds that way,? Sinn said.

The upperclassmen also are partnered up with the freshmen and sophomores on the team as mentors.

?We have partners, too,? Coleman added. ?We?ll do something with them everyday after practice.?

?It gives us a good way to get to know the younger classmen,? Sinn said. ?Get them in the routine of demon basketball and demon athletics so it?s good for that.?

During the last 2 1/2 weeks the focus in practice depends on what day it is.

?[We?ve had] a lot of post work and guard work,? Dillon said.

?There has been a lot more conditioning than there was last year and I think that will show up on the court,? Coleman added.

Everyone has the same goal this year for this season.

?We all have the same goal ? to be successful,? Sinn said, ?so everybody?s mindset is in the right place.?

?I think we have really good leadership on the team,? Dillon said. ?Not only from us four seniors but also from the juniors that have been stepping up. They?ve been really good role models for the younger guys.?

?We want to win conference this year,? Dillon said. ?It?s been, I think, a decade since we were last conference champs, so that?s definitely what we?re going to go for this year.?

The team has also stepped up through conditioning in the off-season and at the beginning of the season.

?We had open gyms every few days,? Sinn said. ?Every week everybody was in here getting shots up and weight-lifting definitely. We were weight-lifting about three times every morning getting ready for football but also it?s helping us with basketball so we?ve always been in good shape through the summer.?

They have also continued their conditioning to now.

?A lot of conditioning [is happening], because he [Coach Stark] wants us to play hard [defense],? Rich said. ?A lot of pressuring on the ball.?

There are also expectations for the younger classmen.

?Everyone needs to show up to practice so they know their positions when we come out,? Coleman said.

The team?s first game is in Muscatine Tuesday night and the boys? are ready.

?I?m ready,? Rich said. ?We just got to shut Joe Wiese? camp down. I think it will be a battle with them.?

Stark said he is impressed with his senior players this year.

?The seniors have been doing a pretty good job of taking ownership in their team and understanding that they have the power to leave a lasting legacy, knowing they can have an impact for the direction of the basketball program,? Stark said. ?They have done a great job of giving our team direction when practicing and showing the correct way to bring your best effort each and every day to practice to prepare for games.?