Published on: Tuesday, February 23, 2010

By Justin Karp, Special to The Sentinel

A small, nondescript sign hangs next to the door leading to the court from head coach Roderick Moore’s office at Surrattsville High School: “Expect to win.”

Following last year’s dismal 1-21 season, you would think it would be a stretch for coaches and players to expect to win this year, but as they rallied and changed their game plan, winning is exactly what they did – to the tune of a 14-6 record. Now the team is marching toward the regional and state tournaments, which begins Friday.

“When school started, it wasn’t going to be the same old, same old,” said assistant coach Peddro Crump. “We reinforced that ‘student’ comes first, then the ‘athlete’ part.”

In one year, the coaches and senior leaders – including Richard Harris, Louis Jackson and John Savoy – have transformed what Harris called a “me first” attitude on the team into one where players spend more time with each other and, unlike last year, listen to their coaches.

 “When you step on the floor, that has to be the mentality,” said Moore, who also serves as the school’s athletic director. “It’s a journey. We constantly challenge this group.”

The Hornets have earned a No. 2 seed and a bye into the second round of the State Division 1A Tournament. They team will play the winner of the Fairmont Heights/Southside Academy first-round game to begin its quest for a state title.

 “So much in basketball depends on your senior leadership,” Moore said. “I work a lot of what I do through them and they’re able to carry it out.”

“Last year to this year has been night and day,” said assistant coach Toney Barnes, who, along with Jayson Mathis, also leads the Hornets’ junior varsity squad. “We’ve tried to change the little things to be successful.”

Coaches have stressed playing sound defense. Last year, Harris and Savoy said that players took the floor with individual agendas and aiming mainly to pad their own offensive stats.

This year, Harris said if players don’t get back on defense, they don’t see the floor.

That commitment has led to tangible success. Earlier this season, the Hornets’ limited division rival Douglass to 50 points, their second lowest total of the season.

Because of their commitment to defense, they have only allowed more than 60 points three times in 19 games.

“This year, the guys are actually listening to the coaches and each other,” Savoy said. “There’s more teamwork. There are no individuals.”

Beyond their success on the court, Moore said his team is excelling in the classroom as well, boasting a cumulative 3.1 GPA. He makes sure his players remember that the “student” part of being a “student-athlete” is the most important thing.

“In life, you have to have some swagger, some quiet confidence,” Moore said. “There’s a certain expectancy. It’s been more of a collaborative effort and that’s what you have to have to build success.”

On the floor, though, each coach says that one of the main changes he has seen over the past year is the confidence level of his players. Moore said that while his team was competitive in many games despite losing 21 of 22, this year’s team now has the unity to win those close games.

“We have the same system from last year,” he said. “It’s just that the desire is different. These kids want to win.”

“We had a whole lot of individuals last year,” Harris said. “Now that we have that brotherhood, everybody is looking for each other.”

The quick turnaround and success in 2009-10 has Harris and his teammates aiming high – the senior says anything less than celebrating a championship at center court at the Comcast Center next month will be a disappointment.

“We’re not here by surprise,” Moore said. “It has been a lot of hard work and a lot of people have bought in.”