Silver Foxes have a new attitude

The Lamar High School boys’ basketball team has a new attitude in every sense of the word.

The Silver Foxes will begin the season in new uniforms, in a brand new gymnasium and with a new coach.

Hartsville’s Wally Johnson, a graduate of Hartsville High School, is taking over the head coaching duties for the Silver Foxes’ 2008-09 season.

“We’re calling it a new era,“ Johnson said of the beginning.

The team finished 8-11 last season and 4-6 in region play. Something Johnson hopes to build on.

“We are going to be young but very athletic. The main thing is that we don’t understand how to win,“ he said. “If we learn to compete, we can get some wins. The kids have worked hard for me. I have a group of good kids that don’t mind working their butts off.“

The team will have two players Johnson expects to be leaders. Eric Bennett will lead the team at point guard, and Johnson believes he is very capable of that. “He’s a quick, smart player,“ the coach said. “I expect him to be a leader for us.“

Johnson also said he sees a lot of potential in sophomore B.J. Goodson. “He can be as good as he wants to be,“ Johnson said of his post player.

The Silver Foxes will also be looking to establish a new style of play. “We want to be like an Amtrak train,“ Johnson said. “We want to play as fast as possible. Lamar has won eight state championships in track, so they can run. There is no need to try to slow them down. I think it is going to be a new style of play.“

On getting his first head coaching job, Johnson said he is looking forward to the season. “(Beginning my career) couldn’t have happened at a better place. I feel really good about it, and I’ve been waiting on it.“

The Silver Foxes began their season Tuesday night as they played host to South Florence. They will face the Governor’s School today.