[11/6/03]It’s been a long time since the St. Aloysius Flashes entered a season with this much anticipation.

St. Al is coming off the school’s best season in more than 30 years. A return trip to the playoffs seems like a good possibility. And with three solid starters coming back for their senior years, the stage is set for the Flashes to build on their previous success.

“We’re really excited,” said senior point guard Drew Mazzanti. “Being in the playoffs for the first time in 33 years really woke everybody up to basketball at St. Al.”

Leading the way for St. Al is a pair of senior guards, Anthony Rector and Mazzanti. Rector averaged 12 points per game last season and nearly 17 per game in the playoffs while Mazzanti did a good job running the point and providing a second scoring threat.

Backing them inside is center Kyle Richards, a 6-foot-4 presence in the post. All three had games where they led the team in scoring last season, and figure to take turns carrying the team again this year.

“I’m excited about this group. It’s a group that every night it can be somebody different,” St. Al coach Paul Hayden said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun in that sense, that we’re going to be able to spread the ball.”

With several solid scoring threats, Hayden said he plans to open up the offense. Rector and Mazzanti are good outside shooters that can also drive the lane, which should allow the Flashes to score a lot of points in transition.

“This year I really want to open it up,” Hayden said. “I want to run more, be more of a fast-break team and utilize our speed.”

Behind the three seniors is a collection of players battling for the last two starting spots. Jason Brown and Alan Ebersole, two solid rebounding and inside scoring threats, graduated and left a void in the middle.

Dario Lawrence and Brian Dyess will try to make up for their loss, while John David Hosemann will provide support for Mazzanti and Rector at the guard positions.

If it all comes together for the Flashes, they could be in store for another strong postseason run. Their division is one of the weakest in Class 1A, with the exception of teams from the Mississippi School for the Deaf and West Lincoln.

“Basically, we know we’ve got the personnel. We’ve got to go out and execute,” Rector said.