By Nick Caesarez | Staff Writer

The coming of winter amounts to far more than cold weather- it means that the basketball season is about to take flight. Johnson’s boys basketball team has already put in a little more than a week of play, and they already have four solid wins under their belt.

“I’m really glad for the season to start. I missed basketball,” senior Joey Louwagie said.

This year, the team boasts four returning players from last year’s roster, and with the addition of eight new players, the Jags enter the season with great expectations.

“I can’t wait to see what we can do this season, and future seasons. We have a lot of potential,” junior Kevin Coleman said.

The Jags have high hopes this season despite the loss of Anthony Walker, as well as other seniors in the Johnson Class of 2011. The players see it as an opportunity for others to step up and bring their game to the court.

“We’re not worried about losing [Walker]. I know my teammates and I can step up and without missing a beat,” junior Luke Wilshire said.

In district, Johnson’s has a good chance to place in the top four and make it to playoffs for the first time in the program’s history.

“This could be the year we make it to playoffs, and that’s exciting to think about,” Wilshire said.