Silhouette

Issue date: 1/18/07 Section: Sports

Focus: Sophomores Sammie Fisher, Wichita, Kan., Dale Saunders, Waterbury, Conn., and Yima Chia-Kur, Mansfield, Ohio, concentrate on head coach Kris Baumann during the second half of the game against Barton County Community College last evening. The Busters lost 74 - 84.

With six sophomores on the men's basketball team, leadership has been the key for the team's success this year.

"I'm showing leadership by encouraging the underclassmen to match the intensity every game," Julian Allen, Waterbury, Conn., said. "If we do that we will be able to match up with any team in the conference."

After serving as assistant coach for a year, Coach Baumann now serves as head coach for the Busters. No captains were appointed because Coach Baumann said the sophomore class should serve as leaders.

"Showing up to practice and making sure everybody has a ride is part of how we show leadership," Dale Saunders, Waterbury, Conn., said.

As a result of the leadership of the sophomores, the Busters have an 11-6 record this year. Sammie Fisher, Wichita, Kan., a returning sophomore from last year's squad, said he is leading by example.

"Being a leader in practice and making sure everybody is communicating is the way I have been leading this season," Fisher said.

Preparation for games comes from watching films and reviewing scouting reports. Achieving the right mind set before games is one way the men get ready for competition.

"Watching the girl's game and listening to music helps me get focused for the game," Saunders said.

Concentration and listening to what the coach has to say has been important to our success according to Fisher.

"Much of the success this year for the Busters has been team unity and hard work in practice," Fisher said. "We come with it every game and play as hard as we can."

The Busters fell to Barton County Community College 74-84 last night.

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