WHS Demons shoot for wins down the stretch

Regardless of what transpires over the final six regular season games for the Williamstown High School boys' basketball team, the season is a success.

Junior guard Dustin Bryant believes the 2007-08 season is a success because the team is playing a different style of basketball.

"We have been playing as a team this year. Last season, nobody passed the ball. If you were open, you just threw up a shot. We have improved quite a bit this season," Bryant said.

Heading into this week, the Demons are 3-15 on the season and have two more wins than last year.

However, senior forward Patrick Gatewood says that it's hard for him to be too upbeat after setting a goal of winning 10 games.

"I haven't decided if it's been successful. I am still on the fence. We set a goal for 10 wins and after winning one game last year that probably seemed a stretch, but we believed we could do it. We have come together as a team, so in that sense, it has been a successful season," Gatewood said.

Senior guard Michael Walter, who did not play last season, can see a difference in his teammates and their play from the beginning of the season to now.

"We are playing some of the best we have played all year. It would've been nice to have had a couple of seasons together, but we are playing as a team and we are playing hard," said Walter.

On Feb. 5, the Demons hosted Owen County, who defeated Williamstown 57-45 in their third outing earlier this season. On Feb. 8, Williamstown travels to 32nd District rival Walton-Verona for its final district game.

The remainder of the schedule has games against Pendleton County, Gallatin County, Carroll County and Henry County, all winnable games, according to Gatewood.

"We can win them. All I know is it is going to go by way too fast for me," Gatewood said.

Walter and Bryant both believe the team can get several more wins down the stretch, with Bryant saying, "seven or eight wins is possible," however, both have their eyes set on the district tournament.

"Hopefully, we can get a win in there and advance to the regional tournament," Bryant said.

"We're going to try to get a few wins and make the district game worth watching. You never know what can happen and it depends on if our shots fall," Walter said.