Perennial championship-caliber programs like the basketball team at DeMatha Catholic High School spend time scrutinizing their flaws — even after championship seasons. His team is loaded with Division I talent, but Stags' coach Mike Jones still wants to fine tune. "You look at the championship season we had last year, but it still, in many people's eyes fell short of what a normal DeMatha standard is," said Jones, who has led the program to seven Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships. "You have that mentality that you want to achieve much more than we did last season. In terms of winning titles, we can't. But in terms of leaving on the right note, the seniors we have definitely want to do that." Most teams would be satisfied with a 29-7 record and winning the championship in a league that is widely regarded as one of the best on the East Coast. But the Stags did lose four of seven games at one point, including an embarrassing 75-25 loss to St. Anthony's (N.J.) in a game that was televised nationally on ESPN. This year, the Stags hope to not only win the WCAC, but also perform well against a schedule that includes some of the nation's top teams. Returning this season is senior James Robinson, a 6-foot-3 guard who was a Gazette-Star All-County first team selection last season and is a University of Pittsburgh recruit. Senior forward Jerami Grant (6-8), who verbally committed to Syracuse over the summer, brings explosiveness and power on both ends of the floor. Junior center BeeJay Anya (6-8), who resembled an offensive lineman last year, has shed 40 pounds, and Jones said Anya is in the best shape of his life. Senior point guard Marcellous Bell (6 feet) returns and has assumed a leadership role along with Robinson and Grant. Jones said the Stags have "12 or 13 guys that legitimately deserve to be on the floor every night," adding that beyond the center position, most of the players are interchangeable. "I've definitely just been trying to get my whole team involved," Grant said. "I feel like we're great individually, but if we jell as a team we can be a lot better. Championships are won as a team, not individually and I want to be able to bring my team together." Aside from competing in the ever-tough WCAC, the Stags, ranked No. 10 in USA Today's preseason Super 25, will face local and national heavyweights. The Stags will host 2011 Maryland Class 4A semifinalist Magruder Dec. 6. Seven days later they will play host to Gonzaga (D.C.) in a rematch of last year's WCAC final. The Stags will travel to San Diego for a tournament during the Christmas break, and on Jan. 7 they will take on national power Neumann Goretti of Philadelphia. On Jan. 16, the Stags will face Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas, ranked No. 9 by USA Today, in the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., in a game that will be televised on ESPN. "The league is going to be tough, that goes without saying," Jones said. "The competition is going to be stiff and we just hope to be there in the end. thampton@gazette.net Riverdale Baptist Crusaders COACH: Louis Wilson LAST YEAR: 25-13 OUTLOOK: The Crusaders have four returning starters, led by Central Connecticut State recruit Brandon Peel, who averaged 11 points and 12 rebounds per game last season. Rebounding shouldn't be an issue with 6-foot-7 junior Khary Doby and senior DeVon Barnet and junior Raeese Hunt (both 6-5) patrolling the paint. Coach Louis Wilson said the big three found themselves matched up against a colossal John Carroll squad in a scrimmage. John Carroll, ranked 45th in the nation by ESPN, features a lineup of three players who are 6-6 or taller. But the Crusaders' frontcourt wasn't intimidated as it battled down low while the guards did the majority of the scoring in a 59-52 victory. Wilson said dominance on the glass and pressure defense will be keys for his team. In his 25th season coaching in Prince George's County, including 12 at Riverdale Baptist, Wilson is looking to collect his 500th career victory. He begins the season with a career mark of 495-202. — Travis Mewhirter Grace Brethren Eagles Coach: Tony Cabbagestalk Last year: 21-9 outlook: Coming off a 20-win season, Grace Brethren is getting a boost from three transfers. In his second year at the Clinton school, coach Tony Cabbagestalk will rely on returning senior starters Terry Howerton and Christian Locke. They will be joined in a guard-heavy offense by sophomore Desmond Brogsdale, who made the move to the Eagles with two others from Queen Anne School in Upper Marlboro, which closed earlier this year. Forward Emil Neugent returns after starting as an eighth-grader last year (middle school students are permitted to play varsity sports in the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference). He'll have help from center Michael Lepzem, another Queen Anne transfer. "I think we have a good chance of competing for the championship this year," said Cabbagestalk, who led the Eagles to the PVAC semifinals last year. "The players understand the system much better than they did last season." — Travis Mewhirter Pallotti Prep Panthers COACH: Shae Johnson LAST YEAR: 18-11 OUTLOOK: Coach Shae Johnson said his squad will remain a work in progress for a portion of the season but is optimistic. "We have a lot of guys that didn't play a lot last year," he said. "I feel confident that we're going to get where we need to be and get our chemistry together. Defensively, I think we're going to be able to compete and I think its going to come down to how well we defend the ball and finish games." The Panthers had their share of success last season, nearly winning 20 games and advancing to the Maryland Independent Athletic Association B Conference semifinals. Returning for the Panthers will be senior forward Langston Barnett, who earned MIAA all-conference honors last season after averaging 18 points and eight rebounds per game. Also returning is senior guard Jamar White (seven points, two assists per game) and guard Jeff Holland (10 ppg). Senior forward Will Lyles transferred to Pallotti from Takoma Academy and will add a frontcourt presence, while senior guard Jacarl Smith and senior forward Marcus Bright will add depth. — Terron Hampton McNamara Mustangs COACH: Martin Keithline LAST YEAR: 23-9 OUTLOOK: The Mustangs would like for last year's success to continue, but the reality is that little will be the same for the team aside from the coaches and system. Marcus Thornton, the Gazette-Star and Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Player of the Year last season, graduated and is now playing at William & Mary. Gazette-Star second team selections Ibn Muhammad and Callon Dailey also graduated. "It's a new year, a whole new team and I have to find out who's going to step up because we have a real tough schedule," said coach Martin Keithline. Senior guard Kelsey Jenkins returns along with junior guard Stephan Jiggetts, junior forward Wayne Johnson (6-foot-4), sophomore forward Tony Aranda (6-6) and junior guard E.J. Nedab. The Mustangs open the season Dec. 1 against Takoma Academy and will play nationally-ranked Neumann Goretti of Philadelphia at the Gonzaga Classic Dec. 9. — Terron Hampton