By TYLER DRUMMOND
of The Gazette
The Almond-Bancroft High School (A-B) boys basketball team is off and running this season, in hopes of a banner year.
The Eagles have started the season 4-0 (3-0 in the Central Wisconsin Conference Small Division) and look to continue their winning ways further down the road.
"This is a young team, so I didn't know what to expect," said head coach Curt Lamb. "We're definitely a lot further along defensively than I thought we would be."
The Eagles lost five seniors from last year's squad that went 20-3.
"We've only got a few kids that have major varsity experience," said Lamb.
A few of the players that will need to step it up this year for the Eagles are Randy Berry, Greg Otto, Ben Dill and Austin Lamb, Lamb said.
Berry comes into this season fresh off of an outstanding season last year and looks to be the leader of this team. "Randy will give you a double-double every night and he plays really hard," said Lamb.
Otto is looked to for his ball control. "Greg has excellent ball control; he is also our leader in assists. We're still working on his scoring, but that'll come around," said Lamb.
Other threats are outside sharpshooter Ben Dill and Austin Lamb, who, according to Lamb, is really stepping up as a sophomore.
Lamb is in his fifth year as the coach at Almond-Bancroft and, when asked why he keeps coming back, quickly responds that the "competitiveness and working with such a great group of young men keeps bringing me back every year."
Lamb said he's been thoroughly impressed this season with how well each player is adapting to his role. "Our chemistry is outstanding. Each player is fitting into their roles nicely."
Early in the season the team set up goals that each and every member of the team feels are attainable. "First, we'd like to win conference," said Lamb. "Second, we want to be playing our best ball of the season at the end so we can make some noise in the tournament."
Lamb also says he's impressed with how hard his team works every night. "We play hard every night and we are not the least bit selfish with the ball. When fans come out to watch us play they can expect a good game because we strive to give our fans the best effort possible every night."