The start of high school basketball season is here and the Dallas County High School Hornets boys basketball team has been preparing for weeks to get ready.

Willie Moore, head boys basketball coach of Dallas County High School, said preseason practices have been great for the Hornets, and they’ve benefited from returning many players from last season’s area championship team that advanced to the Class 4A Central Regionals.

“Our preparation has been going very well. We’ve got a little more experience this year than what we had on last,” Moore said. “Last year, we started the season off with seven freshmen, but now those freshmen are sophomores, so they’ve kind of got an idea of what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to accomplish team wise.”

Moore added that having players who’ve experienced last year’s success will help the Hornets in key situations this season.

“I think it helps us tremendously because it’s not the first time for us to do everything. Last year everything was 100 percent new to them as far as how we do things and how I approach games,” Moore said, “but now with them being a year in the program and having a little success last season, it should pay dividends for us looking forward to the upcoming season.”

For the Hornets, preparation has been all about stopping opposing offenses and allowing no easy baskets.

“Our whole focus for the preseason has been strictly defense,” Moore said. “We know that we’ve got some guys that can put the ball in the hole, but our thing is that we’re focusing on our defense and defensive recognition.”

Moore said another focus has been finding someone to step up as the team’s point guard in order to replace last year’s starter Jibrail Hayes, who’s now a member of the Marion Military Institute men’s basketball team.

“Preseason preparation has been key for us,” Moore said. “We have to replace our point guard this upcoming season. We’re just trying to solidify that position. We feel like we’ve got three candidates for the job that can do a pretty good job for us.”

The Hornets will open the season at home on Thursday, Nov. 15 against West Blocton starting at 1:30 p.m.