Vikings boys basketball may be the next great turnaround story at Siuslaw High School.

"I have extremely high expectations of this team," Siuslaw coach Dylan Perry said. "We have the talent and the depth to set our goals at a very high level.

"It's my job to put these young men in the position to achieve those goals."

More than three dozen players have expressed interest in playing at a recent team meeting, while Perry is interested in what condition their condition is in.

"We had another meeting about expectations for the kids coming into practice in shape," Perry said. "We will be running a mile run to see the conditioning level of our athletes.

"We plan to push the ball and press on defense. So our condition will be critical. The more we can get started on that preseason, the better we will be prepared come practices and games."

First official practice is Monday, Nov. 18. The team opens at home Wednesday, Dec. 4, against Newport. Tipoff is 7:15 p.m.

The great turnaround story that is Vikings football could factor in, for better and worse, depending how far the team advances in the 3A state playoffs.

Perry has a number of returning players now wearing shoulder pads in juniors Elijah Blankenship and Skyler Loomis and sophomores Braydon Thornton, Rhys Fleming, Camp Lacouture and Avery Hart.

"We have the core of our team returning this year," Perry said. Siuslaw graduated just two seniors, Dylan Wynn and Jordan Taniguchi.

"We built a foundation of what we want to do as a team last year, so we will be able to add on to what we are trying to accomplish."

Other returning varsity players include senior Caleb Hennessee, juniors Liam McClellan, Skyler Mattson and Jacob Foskett and sophomore Brody Terry.

"We have about 10 to 12 athletes that will be in the rotation," Perry said, "which will allow us to do things we weren't able to do last year.

"I'm really excited about the potential of this team."

Playing five freshmen and five sophomores, the Vikings were 5-19 overall and 0-10 in their return to the Sky-Em League last season.

"We finished at the bottom of the 4A rankings last season, so there won't be high expectations for our team from outsiders," Perry said.

They fail to see, once again, a good turnaround story in the making.

NOTES

Perry works full time as teen center director and sports director at the Boys & Girls Club of West Lane Count. "I am really enjoying the new opportunities the job allows me, Perry said." …

Perry is planning a free-throw fundraiser again this season. "We will be organizing it during the first week of practice," he said. ...

Football coaches Samuel Johnson and Nick Johnson will be assisting Perry this season, Sam as the coach of the junior varsity 2 team and Nick as the coach of the junior varsity team. …

Ty Perry returns as varsity assistant coach. …

SIUSLAW BOYS BASKETBALL

• Monday, Nov. 18 — First practice.
• Wednesday, Dec. 4 — Newport, 7:15 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 6 — at Pleasant Hill, 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 10 — Sutherlin, 7:15 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 12 — at Harrisburg, 7 p.m., Junction City/Harrisburg tournament
• Friday, Dec. 13 — Junction City/Harrisburg tournament, to be determined
• Saturday, Dec. 14 — Junction City/Harrisburg tournament, to be determined
• Wednesday, Dec. 18 — at Stayton, 7 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 20 — at South Umpqua, 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 27 — Douglas, 7:15 p.m., endowment game
• Friday-Saturday, Jan. 3-4 — Bandon Dunes Holiday Invitational, to be announced
• Tuesday, Jan. 7 — Taft, 7:15 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday, Jan. 10-11 — Sky-Em/Skyline Crossover, Marshfield, to be determined
• Friday, Jan. 17 — at Cottage Grove, 5:45 p.m., Sky-Em League opener
• Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Marist Catholic, 5:45 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 24 — at Marshfield, 5:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Elmira, 5:45 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 31 — at Junction City, 5:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 4 — Cottage Grove, 7:15 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 7 — at Marist Catholic, 7:15 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 11 — Marshfield, 7:15 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 14 — at Elmira, 7:15 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 18 — Junction City, 7:15 p.m.

SIUSLAW GIRLS BASKETBALL

• Monday, Nov. 18 — First practice
• Wednesday, Dec. 4 — Newport, 5:45 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 6 — at Pleasant Hill, 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 10 — Sutherlin, 5:45 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 12 — at Harrisburg, 8:30 p.m., Junction City/Harrisburg tournament
• Friday, Dec. 13 — Junction City/Harrisburg tournament, to be determined
• Saturday, Dec. 14 —Junction City/Harrisburg tournament, to be determined
• Wednesday, Dec. 18 — at Stayton, 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 20 — at South Umpqua, 6 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 27 — Douglas, 5:45 p.m., endowment game
• Friday-Saturday, Jan. 3-4 — Bandon Dunes Holiday Invitational, to be announced
• Tuesday, Jan. 7 — Taft, 5:45 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday, Jan. 10-11 — Sky-Em/Skyline Crossover, Phoenix, to be determined
• Friday, Jan. 17 — at Cottage Grove, 7:15 p.m., Sky-Em League opener
• Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Marist Catholic, 7:15 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 24 — at Marshfield, 7:15 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Elmira, 7:15 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 31 — at Junction City, 7:15 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 4 — Cottage Grove, 5:45 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 7 — at Marist Catholic, 5:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 11 — Marshfield, 5:45 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 14 — at Elmira, 5:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 18 — Junction City, 5:45 p.m.