Brad Felder hopes the success that Hanford High is having on the football field won't hurt the chemistry of his team in the gym. The Bullpups boys basketball coach is having to get ready for a season missing six players, including West Yosemite League player of the year Cougar Williams, who averaged 15.5 points per game. None of the six step onto the court until the Bullpups football finishes their postseason, which will end at the latest on Dec. 12.

Hanford will have to play six or seven games without those six, relying on other players.

"We're going to have guys that think they're starters," Felder said. "But when the football guys come back, it will probably change.

"That will make the tournaments and practices during the Christmas break all that more important."

He also thinks the football team's success will help and wouldn't root against them so he could get players to his team faster.

"It's hard to root against them," Felder said. "It gives a good feeling around campus when they're good."

Once the players are back to the team, Felder said it would take time for them to get into basketball shape.

"They don't get to go hard for 10 seconds and then go back to a huddle," Felder said. "They have to be constantly moving."

Last year, Hanford set a school record with 31 victories before losing in the Southern California Regionals to Bishop Montgomery Prep (Torrance) 56-53. Hanford went into the game with a 19-game winning streak, its longest since 1989.

The Bullpups also won the Central Section Division III championship, their first section title since 2001 and went undefeated in the West Yosemite League at 12-0.

"We have a target on us," Felder said. "Last year's success only adds to it."

This year, the Bullpups will play in the Division II playoffs and Felder said the WYL will be the toughest it's been in a long time.

"Everybody was young last year," Felder said. "Our league will be a lot better."

Hanford has 10 seniors on the roster and seven of the players have been playing on the same Amateur Athletic Union team for seven years. Felder said and that can be used to help build chemistry.

"We just have to fit the new guys in," he said.

(Dec. 1, 2008)