When the cold wind blows the rain sideways and a green grass field turns into a mudbowl, an outdoor athlete must rely on his or her character to help them meet the challenge.

For a basketball team there are no such natural distractions, only an opposing group making the most of ideal conditions in order to get the best of them.

Courts and hoops are basically the same wherever you go... the level of fan support being about the biggest variable in a game.

Games will begin next month for the Edward Milne Community School sr. boys basketball team and local fans are likely to have some high-end entertainment to take in.

The EMCS basketball court is a second home to the young men who gathered there last Friday morning before classes began.

Under the direction of coach Trevor Bligh the group was involved in a wide range of up-tempo drills and there was not the slightest hint that any of the 15 boys would rather be anywhere else.

It’s a cliché to suggest a high school sports team is optimistic at the start of a season, but even so this looks like an especially keen group.

Evolution has brought the squad around to a youth-laden outfit. There are a few grade 12 players sharing their experience with the others.

“We have a pretty solid team,” said grade 11 student Walker Nickerson during a short break. “We’re going to be playing some great defense...a lot of hustle... a lot of running. I think it’ll be a really good year.”

The point guard/shooting guard’s face lit up when he was asked about the guy calling the shots during the practice... it was obvious where a good portion of the good chemistry came from.

“I’m loving having Trevor back, he’s a really great coach... the best thing that’s happened for basketball in Sooke, I think.”

Nickerson says his favourite part of the game is taking short range jumpers right around the free throw line. He expects strong competition from a familiar source when the season gets underway.

“Lambrick Park runs really smooth plays and has really good shots and ball handling,” he said. “They’re just a solid team.”

The squad has a fair bit of action to look forward to as there will be pre and post season exhibitions and tournaments to go along with about 10 games on the league schedule.

Adding to Nick McCormack’s excitement about what lies ahead is the fact he missed most of last season due to injury.

“I’m pretty stoked because last season I broke my leg, I never got to play.” The setback did nothing to curb the centre’s enthusiasm as he took in a basketball camp over the summer after sufficient healing. He now feels better than ever.

“I’m flying over the rim,” he said, not too hard to imagine from a 6’7” athlete.

“There’s a positive energy with everyone, a great amount of skill on this team. It’s something to look forward to this year... extremely!”

McCormack’s zeal was unmistakable as he continued on the topic of team solidarity.

“We’re one team and there’s no problem on this court. You come here and you work hard... you get all that anger out of you and when you go home you’re physically beat.”

Trevor Bligh is pleased with the hardworking nature of the newcomers and tips his hat to last year’s junior boys coach Dennis Price in that regard.

The coach is looking at working on the skill level of his players and is happy to have the talent and experience of co-coaches Todd Kozinka and Matthew Payne on his side.

“Todd brings a wealth of knowledge from SFU as a player and UBC as a coach,” reported Bligh.

“Matt’s intensity is seen in the kids in the way they play. These guys are being treated to three coaches, not just one trying to handle 15 kids.”

Admiration and respect for the players is evident in Bligh.

“These guys will be successful or it will kill them,” he noted, “and that’s on their own, that’s not me. They are very goal-driven and they believe that through hard work they can get exactly what they want.” The way things look now there could be 11 of the current crop sticking around for next year’s program.

Trevor Bligh is continuing what is clearly a passion and the beneficiaries are the youth using basketball as a means of rounding out their education.

“For the fourteenth straight year I’ll be taking Edward Milne to Lambrick Park to open the season... on December 9th, both the guys’ and the girls’ teams will be going.”

Not one to miss the chance to deliver a meaty quote, Bligh closed with confidence,

“I fully intend,” he forecasted, “to be the first coach on the Island to take the girls and the boys to the Island playoffs next year.”