IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers JUMP SHOT-Above, Royal's Bryan Spring takes a mid-range shot during practice. Right, head coach Craig Griffin addresses the team. Following a disappointing campaign last year, the Royal boys' basketball team is back and ready to improve this season.

The team will be working from the ground up, as the Highlanders finished last season without a win in the Marmonte League.

"We have something to prove out on the court this year," Royal head coach Craig Griffin said. "I think we are going to be a much better team this season. I mean, we kind of have to be, don't we?"

Though the team struggled a year ago, the Highlanders were very young and they bring back four returning starters this year.

"The guys that were key players for us last year are going to be key players for us this year," Griffin said. "Hopefully the year of experience will help us in that department."

One of the key returnees is senior Nico Svoboda. Svoboda averaged 7.5 points a game last year and was third in the Marmonte League with 42 3-point field goals. Griffin believes that since Svoboda was so good from behind the arc, he should be taking more long-range shots.

"He definitely needs to be making more than 42 3-pointers. He made 42, but probably only attempted around 100," Griffin said. "That needs to go up. He is a very good shooter, but he needs to show it by being more aggressive."

Svoboda agreed with his coach.

"I need to make more shots this year and hopefully that will develop even more as the season goes on," Svoboda said.

Also returning is junior Derick Haught. Haught averaged 8.4 points a game and has impressed Griffin early on in practices.

"He's a good player," Griffin said. "He kind of makes things go or not go. He's our point guard, and the guys depend on him to get them the ball so they can score."

The Highlanders have a team that consists of all seniors and juniors. Royal is hoping the transition of many players moving to the varsity team from the junior varsity team will pay off.

Early on, RHS has won two of its first four preseason games, beating Monroe 79-74, and Beverly Hills 66-58 in the Beverly Hills tournament last week.

"I think we need to keep the same energy we have in the first quarter going for a whole game more often," senior Andrew Germic said. "It's looking that way early on, and I think that means we'll be more successful."

Even though RHS struggled in league a year ago, the team is looking forward to its first league game on Dec. 18 against Thousand Oaks.

"I don't really think about the past, all that happened last year," Germic said.

Griffin agreed that the team seems to be working hard early on and that they are focused on the task ahead of them, not behind them.

"We just talk about playing the game the right way," Griffin said. "We don't do things a certain way because we did them or didn't do them last year and we were 014. The key is that everyone out here has been working hard, hustling and playing good defense. This group is really confident in themselves."

Royal will not have its gym during the season. The school is repairing the floors in the gym, so the Highlanders will be playing their home games this season at the newly built Gilbert Center at California Lutheran University.

"I've seen it and it's an outstanding venue they have there at CLU," Griffin said.

"Obviously, it becomes a little harder for our fans to come and watch the games; it's a little farther away and not within walking distance for the students anymore. I'm hoping that by playing in a great venue, the team's play will be a little better," he said.

Griffin is also hoping that the team can get back its swagger soon.

"When you look at all the teams in this league that are good, the one thing they all have is confidence," Griffin said. "They walk into a building just knowing they are going to win. Hopefully we can have some of that this year."