By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–.After their three-man weave drill, Head Coach Dean Sanderson told his team to line up on the sideline.

“Three turnovers, one missed (basket).  Not bad” he said.  “Set of four.  Go”

As they’re running sideline-to-sideline sprints after the three-man weave drill, the anticipation of the season in a hand full of days away, the intensity hasn’t let up despite some rough spots this week.

The big thing is being communicative with one another on the floor said Sanderson.

“It’s a culture change with practicing with the kids here,” said Sanderson.  “We’re trying to get them to be way more vocal and be more energetic, fly around and it helps with what we’re trying to do.

“That’s why we’re on them so much about that.”

Another tough spot was Wednesday’s 6am practice said senior Tristen Wilson, but he knows it’s all for the best in the long run after roughly 30 minutes of sideline-to-sideline sprints.

“We get on the line and that Wednesday practice we were on that line for half-an-hour,” Wilson said. “It was tough but we’re not accepting a losers mentality anymore.

“We’re trying to have a better season and with the coaching staff here and the players drive of wanting to win, I’ll think we’ll do that.”

The coaches set a challenge for the team:  Who will step up and be a leader of this squad?

Wilson himself took the challenge upon himself and ran with it.

“Last group up, your up.  Last group your up first,” he said after a series of sprints.  “Make the most of it.  Offense communicate….Defense we’re talking.”

His teammates picked up the vocal intensity.  Clapping after great plays.

“Come on white, let’s score,” one would say during a drill.

Wilson explained that the coaches told them earlier in the week that someone needed to step up and be a leader on the team, and the other seniors are following suit.

“Our coaches stepped up and said, ‘hey we need a leader’,” Wilson said. “I’ve taken that role of leadership because I want this team to be successful.

“I looked at myself in the mirror and I really took a deep breath and I said to myself, ‘This team needs a leader and that I can help this team as a leader.”

The team was challenged with 13 guys in 11 man sprint as the team are missing several players due to injury or personal reasons.

“It’s never good to miss players,” said Sanderon. “The one positive is that it gives other guys an opportunity to show what they can do.

Sanderson was impressed with how those guys who were called up, took full advantage of the opportunity.  And Sanderson knows that once those players who are out comeback, that the Royal Scots would be better for that as a whole.

But it didn’t slow down practice as they worked on their offense and defense as practice wore on.

Even Coach Jack Martino voiced his excitement by hooting and hollering during the final hour to help energized the team entering the final hour of practice.

Sanderson explains that it’s just his personality.

“The intensity he is showing there is, we want kids to be energetic to be confident in what they’re doing,” he said.  “It takes confidence to be loud and be aggressive and believe what your trying to do.”

The focus at hand is the here and now as Dallas comes in Wednesday night.

“Our focus is on Dallas,” said Wilson.  “We have a lot to get better on, specifically our communication.  That’s going to be key on Wednesday.”

As for Martino running sprints after practice for all of his excitement during practice?

The verdict is still out on it.

“Ah no,” said Wilson with a laugh and a smile.  “Martino is a great coach.”

PHOTO GALLERY (PICTURES BY JEREMY MCDONALD)

Jeremy McDonald is a professional sports journalist in the Salem/Portland area and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalist in Oregon with B.S. degrees from Southern Oregon University in Journalism (2011) and Health/PE (2013).  Got a story idea? Email him at jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com or on Twitter at @J_McDonald81!

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