The Dawson County boys' basketball team opened its summer workouts with a thrashing of Pickens County High School last Friday evening.
Coach Thad Burgess' team will have a busy summer. The team plans to play lots of games and try to build on last year's success.
The team will play several scrimmages and plans to attend camps at Jefferson, Birmingham-Southern, Fellowship Christian and Auburn University.
"We use June just like approaching our season. We will play the equivalent to a regular season in June. Our kids will play 30 plus games and close to 10 practices," Burgess said.
"We could only have a couple of days of practice in November before we start. The team camps help us begin to form team chemistry being away from everyone with just us. We also can experiment with different lineups. I believe you also learn to win and we expect to win, every game no matter where or who we play," Burgess said.
This summer will be different without the inside presence of post player Bruce Clark and guard Mitchell Putnam, who have both decided not to return to the basketball program this season.
"We will have some competition at the five spot where Bruce Clark played last season. Bruce has decided to concentrate only on football. We also have lost Mitchell to football," Burgess said.
"We have great kids that will fill in fine. We have built the program on having players that really will be dedicated to the program, so if we lose someone, it is an opportunity for someone else. Camron Chester and Lucas Pain played a lot of minutes last year and will battle for that spot along with the most improved player in the program in sophomore Stephen Stanfill," Burgess said.
Leadership is something that team will excel in this year, according to the coach.
"I think seniors Tyler Dominy, Will Anglin and Gunnar Armstrong will provide great leadership and experience and upcoming starting point guard Jonathan Sanderson, battling a broken ankle will have one more year under fire in handling the ball for us. Junior Cameron Millholland will provide depth and battle for key minutes. I enjoy the summer even more then the year because we all get to know each other and the pressure is off. We have great kids," Burgess said.