It wasn't so long ago, local basketball fans talked about and yearned for the glory days of the '80s when the Wisconsin Dells High School varsity basketball team was a conference powerhouse, if not a state contender.

A pre-season ranking of fifth in state among Division 2 teams seems to point to the fact those days are back for the basketball Chiefs.

For most of the past decade, the Chiefs have battled for the conference championship with Adams-Friendship and this season should be no different.

Last season, the Chiefs shared the conference title with the Green Devils, getting back to the top rung after being knocked off a season earlier by the same Green Devils.

Ironically, in the one season out of the past five that the Chiefs did not claim the conference crown, it instead marched to the state championship tournament, finishing as a Division 2 State semi-finalist.

Last season the road ended with an unfortutate meeting against top ranked Monroe in Sectional semi-finals.

The high expectations continue though in a community that appears intent on placing itself in elite company as a perennial state powerhouse.

Last season at this time, head coach Brad Rohling was hoping to get players to step up as just Jade Royston and Ryan Wenkman returned as starters from that team that made the trip to state.

At times the team struggled to find that depth, but in the end, the seniors stepped up in a big way, helping the team advance to Sectionals.

This season, Royston returns as the lone consistent connection to that state tournament team while junior Nate Gibson looks to build on a breakthrough sophomore season and another group of seniors will be expected to step up their game.

Michael Morse was on that state tournament roster as well but while he was officially a member of last season's team, football injuries kept him on the sidelines through the entire season.

"Jade is really the only one coming back with a lot of experience," coach Rohling said in a recent interview. "We're going to need everybody to step up. Everybody who hits the floor.

"That includes Nate. I think Nate can build on the end of last season, you know, the River Valley game (Regional championship) Nate didn't miss a shot and he was the difference in that game.

"Jimmy Alvin gained a lot of experienced and played in the Regional final and Sectional game.

"They didn't get a lot of minutes, but they got some experience and it was a positive experience. They both played well when they were called on and I expect that to carry over."

Certainly those players will play a key role alongside Royston this season while Morse, roughed up again in the football campaign, will likely hit the floor for the first time around Christmas.

But in a lot of ways, this will be Royston's team.

"Jade will have the ball in his hands the whole game," Rohling said. "You know, he's going to move to the point and he's going to have to score for us, going to have to create for other guys, he's going to have to defend."

Most nights the opposition squad's defensive plan will focus on Royston as well, perhaps to the point of double teaming.

"Well, I would imagine he will be the number one priority of their scouting reports. But, even if they do (double team), I've been very impressed with his passing in practice, finding the open guy already and he's playing with guys he really hasn't played with much."

Royston relishes the leadership role and is confident the players coming in this season will help the team stay at the high level it has come to expect.

"Yeah, we have some depth," Royston said. "We have some young guys coming in off that JV squad that are going to step up big and fill those spots."

Royston admitted the chemistry was a little off in early practices, due mostly to players not being familiar with each other.

"But, we're coming together real quickly. Quicker than I thought we would," Royston said.

As for his change from the wing to point guard, Royston is looking forward to that.

"I actually like being the guy bringing the ball up," Royston said. "All my years in club ball I was the guy bringing it up.

"Wenkman was better at it than me, so, now I am back in my regular spot," Royston said.

Wenkman was fond of running a quick offense and that likely won't change with Royston calling the signals. In fact, it could get even quicker.

"I'm one of those guy that likes to push the ball as fast as we can. If we've got an open shot, we'll get that shot quick," Royston said.

"We'll be up and down all year," said Royston, adding a smile. "Sometimes Gibby might not even get to half court by the time we put it up. If I get down there and nobody's guarding me at that three ball line, it's going up."

Royston prepared for basketball a little different this season, playing varsity football after a two-season sabatical from the sport.

Royston said football may have given him a little extra toughness and added some muscle that could come in handy under the basket where physical play is at its peak.

Offensively, the team will look to be somewhat diverse and that will likely happen as the varsity squad always seems to get a great boost from its senior players, which should take some pressure off of Royston and Gibson.

Jimmy Alvin began to show his potential with the team last year. Other seniors along with Royston and Alvin included Matt Hall, Jake Williams and Michael Morse.

Both Williams and Morse have seen their progress stymied to a certain extent due to injuries suffered on the football grid iron.

In the case of Morse, he was forced to miss the entire season last year. He originally hoped rest would be enough to heal a toe injury he suffered, but finally had to concede to surgery midway through the basketball campaign.

This year there is good news and bad news for Morse.

The bad news - he's injured again - this time, a battle with turf toe is the minor ailment, a hamstring injury the one that has him wearing civilian duds - likely until right around Christmas.

"With Michael, I just hope to get him healthy. He's a difference maker," Rohling said.

Morse makes his biggest impression on defense and while Rohling is anxious to get him back into the lineup, Morse may be even more excited.

Certainly a football player first, Morse has generated enough interest to be approached by some Division 3 schools but he is looking forward to a final season on the hardwood as well.

"Right now (my focus) is basketball," said Morse. "I missed all of last year, so I really wanna (play)."

On the football field, Morse's presence is obvious. While stellar on the defensive side of the ball, it is his explosive runs that most people will remember him for.

His contribution is almost totally opposite on the basketball court. While he does pick up points in most contests, it is his tenacious defense that Rohling is excited about.

"I'd actually rather limit their best player to say under 10 points...I'd rather do that than score 20.

"I just think it shows the work ethic that I have and I don't care about the spotlight that much."

It's not totally surprising to see the seniors counted on so heavily this season. In many of those successful seasons in the past decade it has been the seniors, including some who seemingly step from out of nowhere into the spolight.

"Yeah, it seems like the past two years we've replaced a lot (of players)," Rohling said. "We've had great success on kids, when it was their senior year, their time to shine...they'd shine. An example would be Alex (Buesing) waited his turn until last year, Laddie Lucke waited his turn until last year. They stepped up big.

"You know we lost four starters the year before - Wenkman coming back. You know, Jade wasn't even a starter (as a sophomore). Michael was hurt all year, Nathan (Miller) was hurt all year. This year, I think Jake Williams is ready to step up," Rohling said.

"He was hurt a lot last year and he's had some injury problems, but he's healthy now and I think it's his time to step up. I think he's capable of doing that.

"Jimmy Alvin is capable of stepping up as well.

"Both of those guys gained a ton of confidence playing football and coming off of a real good season."

The most likely set up at this point is to have Royston take over Wenkman's point guard position, replaced at his own wing spot by possibly Alvin or Williams, but getting a bigger contribution from Gibson as well.

The other incoming senior is Jake Hall.

"He's a senior, I think he's waited his turn and worked hard. He'll see some minutes. I think he understands his role and knows what he can do."

Rohling said he expects perimeter player, Bobby Blaschke, a junior at WDHS will fit in nicely this season as will Kyle Stowers.

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