Success is a word that is synonymous with the Grambling High School basketball team. So as head coach Michael Lyons and the Kittens enter the 2007-08 season, they expect nothing less then greatness.
“I expect the same thing every year,” coach Lyons said. “We want to win the district, we want to win 25 games and we want to win the state championship.”
The Kittens finished last season with a 24-2 record but lost in the semi-finals at the Top 28 Tournament .
This year vital returning players are expected to make huge contributions to the team.
“We have Nicholas Chaney returning. He was MVP of the district last year,” coach said.
“We also have Brice Hill and Justin Rogers, who were all district last year.”
Coach Lyons has been coaching at GHS for nearly 27 years and has the highest winning percentage among active coaches in the state of Louisiana.
He was inducted into the high school basketball Hall of Fame last year and said that the award was not just for him but for the school as well.
“I was awarded the opportunity to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Lyons said. “But it is not only for coach Lyons, but also the program.”
“I think that stability is one of the biggest things. Kids come into the program believing in what we are doing, and we have been successful.”
Although the Kittens finished strong last year, this year the coach believes that starting fast is paramount if they want to achieve their goals this season.
“A good start makes a good end,” he said.
“We hope that we can get off to a good start and hopefully we can continue to do good things throughout the season.”
The Kittens open their season tonight in an away game against Farmerville.