Hard-working, effort, and coachable are three words used to describe the boys basketball team at Dawson County this summer, according to Head Coach Thad Burgess.
The Tigers finished their summer team program with a two-day camp at Auburn University June 25 and 26.
"It has probably been the best summer program that I ever had," Burgess said. "Putting in a new offense and having a totally new team, with little or no experience, I knew would be a challenge.
"Each player was willing and bought into everything we tried to teach them this summer. They were a totally different team from our first day at the end of May until our last camp this past weekend in Auburn."
An example of each player's willingness to be a team player was the fact that as a team they took six charges in the first game at Auburn. The team did not record one in its first game this summer at Jackson County.
"We will be a fun team to watch. They give everything they have and you will see them get better and more confident every game," he said. "I thought the Auburn University camp was important because the only two players that played varsity ball at all last year were on family trips, so others had to step up without them, and they did."
Burgess said he is realistic with his team's goals.
"Finally, I am realistic about this group. With eight sophomores, and no upper classmen with any varsity experience, we are going to struggle with winning games. We are very small and still very early in the learning curve. Patience will be important and the boys will need to believe in our system even during the low times," he said.
Burgess said that he is excited, though, to see how far this team can go.
"However, I am very excited for the next several years where the basketball program has the potential to go. This is a great group of boys that are so much fun to coach and be around."
Attending the Auburn camp were Joseph Cronan, Corey Hammond, Dawson Dominy, Wyatt Haase, Kane Pelfrey, Carlos Heller, Ryan Gallenkamp, Jake Moore, Ron Mullberry and Jeremiah Crumley.