Challenge is accepted 'From nothing to something'

Talk of starting things anew at Lakeville South is starting to become old.

After the Cougars' football team advanced to the Class 5A state championship game in 2006, some all but left the team for dead in 2007 because it lost 19 starters. Just ask the coach.

"No one expected us to win a game this year," Larry Thompson said in mid-October. " ... But we're saying, 'Let's just go play.'"

Lakeville South finished 5-4, quieting some critics.

Now, that same tone is being heard around the Cougars boys' basketball team after it, too, graduated the bulk of its lineup from last season's state tournament team.

"I know we'll hear that because Lakeville South graduated basically every kid who played a varsity minute, they've gotta be bad," first-year coach John Sheehan said. "But I don't believe that. And I don't think our kids believe that. I think we'll surprise a lot of teams."

The players, while inexperienced, are indeed on board to come out this season and prove last year was not a fluke.

This is a team that has already seen its share of adversity.

Lakeville South is starting this season under its third coach in 12 months.

Matt Addington, in his second season with the team last winter, was suspended and ultimately resigned following a postgame outburst last January.

Thompson, the school's freshman boys' basketball coach, was brought in as the interim varsity coach, and he led the Cougars to state, where they eventually finished fourth.

In the semifinals, Lakeville South lost by two points to Buffalo despite the Cougars' best players being in foul trouble most of the game.

When Thompson said he would not pursue the varsity coaching position permanently, Sheehan put his name into the hat and got the job.

Sheehan said it's a clean slate heading into this season. Last year is not talked about.

"It's a fresh start," Sheehan said. "These kids are so ready to go out and show people how well they can play basketball."

But Sheehan isn't quite sure what kind of team will be on the court.

Last week, while still sifting through tryouts, he estimated the team's tallest player will be around 6-5. He knows he'll have some good shooters, but team defense is a concern and his overall thoughts are "up in the air."

Sitting in a back room away from the gym, Sheehan smiled constantly when talking of the upcoming season. Sure, there's not much experience down the hall, but he sees a team that will not back down or give up.