Tim Walker has been around basketball long enough to know that sometimes that’s just the way the ball bounces. After winning consecutive Frontier Conference titles, the ball hasn’t bounced LCSC’s way the past two seasons with injuries and heartbreaking losses, among other things.

This season, Walker has every reason to believe the ball will be back in LCSC’s hands despite only having three players back who saw court time a year ago and just five overall. And while it’s possible the new faces may take some lumps early while the team building and familiarity with Walker’s system takes place, this season could have the makings for something special for the sixth-year coach.

"I like the way they work and the way they work together," Walker said. "Our practices have been very intense, but that’s what you want from your practices – hard work and intensity."

Walker’s teams have always been strong defensively, but the team struggled on offense a year ago, especially with long range shooting. The Warriors hit only 33.3 percent from the 3-point line and no regular shot better than 39.6 percent from the arc. That especially was problematic in what usually is a high-scoring Frontier Conference and the Warriors finished with a 14-15 mark overall.

This, however, will be almost a completely different squad. Three seniors return, but guard Jared Giammona (6-0, Santa Rosa, CA) is the only returning full-time starter, while forward Alex King (6-6, Tacoma, WA) started 11 games and guard Derek Gianukakis (6-4, Republic, WA) started three. Between them they combined to score 20.5 of LCSC’s 71.8 points per game. Two others who redshirted last season – Andrew Packwood (6-8, Lewiston, ID) and Ray Stout (6-6, Genesee, ID) also return.

Despite the fact that the remaining eight players are all new to the program, Walker feels the Warriors will field a competitive team.

"I like the fact that we have a little bit of everything on this team," Walker said. "We have good length in our guards, we can shoot the 3 fairly well and we have good size and are more athletic inside, which hopefully means we will score more points and defend well."

Giammona averaged 7.0 points per game last season, but came on at the end of the year when he scored in double figures in three of LCSC’s final four games.

"He’s had a good offseason and worked hard over the summer and is having a great fall," Walker said. "He understands what we are doing and he’s a constant threat from the 3-point line."

Gianukakis averaged 7.5 points per game a year ago and also has made great strides from a year ago. "Derek has had his best practices in the last three weeks since he’s been a Warrior," Walker said. "He’s definitely shooting the ball well and crashing the boards well."

Joining those two in the Nos. 2 and 3 interchangeable guard positions are newcomers Darin Stewart (6-3, Mission Viejo, CA) and David Johnson (6-5, Chicago), both juniors. Stewart earned all-conference honors last season at Citrus College in California, while Johnson last played at North Idaho College during the 2007-08 season.

"Darin is probably our most steady guy because you can almost write down on paper what you will get from him each day," Walker said. "He plays with a little chip on his shoulder, especially on defense. With DJ, I think it’s taken a little bit of time to get back to a structured game, but he has all the tools. He has great length and athleticism. He can get up on the rim quickly and I think he’ll be a good leader for us."

Josh Hasquet (6-2, Meridian, ID) is a walk-on freshman also at the 2-3 spots.

Improving play at the point guard position was one of Walker’s goals in recruiting last season and he feels the Warriors have two true point guards and another that can play all three guard spots. Jeray Key (6-1, Longview, WA) earned all-conference honors at Lower Columbia Community College last season, while Spencer Drury (6-0, Spokane) averaged nearly 12 points a game last season at University High.

"Jeray is a physically big and strong kid," Walker said. "He is so physical that he should be able to set the tone for us on both ends of the court. Spencer might be a freshman, but he doesn’t look like it out on the court."

Senior Donnie Lao (6-2, Midvale, UT) comes to LCSC after spending last season at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, a Division II school. He may be the Warriors’ most versatile player and likely will see court time at all three guard spots.

"Donnie gives us some versatility because he shoots the ball so well," Walker said. "He can knock down the 3 and take it to the basket. He’s a smart player who knows where to go with the basketball."

King is among a strong group at the No. 4 spot. He was the only Warrior to shoot better than 50 percent from the field last season at 62.9 percent and he also finished fourth on the team in rebounding.

"Alex had a great spring and summer with his training and he’s in better shape than he’s ever been," Walker said. "He’s more assertive on the offensive end and in some of the practices, he’s dominated the competition. He’s one of the guys we’ll throw the ball to score or make something happen."

Stout redshirted last season after two strong years at Walla Walla Community College. Walker said he has the offensive skills and continues to get better defensively. "We want to front the posts on defense to help keep us out of foul trouble and he continues to improve in that area," Walker said. "Offensively, he has great touch around the basket."

Devon Adams (6-4, Irvine, CA) and post Donte Roberts (6-9, Birmingham, AL) both come to LCSC from Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and will help the Warriors down low.

"We think from the start of practice to now, Devon has made the most progress," Walker said. "He’s attacking the offensive glass well and attacking the rim. And he’s a great open shooter. He can knock down the 3, which will keep the defense honest."

Walker said Roberts has been playing organized basketball only since his junior year in high school, but "he’ll have those moments we think he can dominate under the basket. He can put a lot of pressure on the defense to run with him so we will need him to be in excellent condition."

Packwood is the only player with more than one year of experience in the program. He gave the Warriors good minutes off the bench his first two years, but back pain and problems forced him to sit out last season.

"Andrew has improved a lot," Walker said. "He’s stronger, he has better bounce, and he’s shooting the ball better. He’s a good solid guy for us."

Walker said while the Warriors have plenty of offensive threats, the key is still defense.

"The key to our success will be how well we defend; what kind of tone on the defensive end we bring each night," Walker said. "I think we can be a real good defensive team."

"We also have to shoot the 3 better and attack the basket more. I think if we can attack the basket, we should get 6-10 more free throws a night, and that will help us."

Walker will find out much about his team during a rough-three exhibition game stretch to start play. LCSC has consecutive night exhibition games on the road against three NCAA Division I schools – Montana (Nov. 4), Washington State (Nov. 5) and Idaho (Nov. 6). Walker said he didn’t purposely plan the schedule that way, but said playing those three games should give him a pretty good indication of the team’s toughness.

LCSC opens the regular season on Nov. 9 in Portland against Portland Bible College. LCSC’s first home game will be Nov. 12 against Southern Oregon. The Warriors will play a fourth exhibition game on Dec. 16 against Gonzaga in Spokane.