Many high school basketball programs consider a 16-8 season a success. However, for the Lone Tree Lions and head boys basketball coach Tom Squiers, the 2013-14 season was seen as a rebuilding year.

“In 2013, we made it to the state tournament and we had nine seniors on that team.” Squiers said, “(Those seniors) played a lot for us and there were a lot of question marks heading into the (2013-14) season.”

There aren’t as many questions heading into this year’s basketball season. The Lions return four players who started last year’s district final game against Danville. Headlining the group is sophomore Jovonte Squiers. Squiers was named a first team all-conference performer as a freshman. He averaged 11.3 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game in his first season in green and gold. Also returning as starters are a trio of seniors, including: Nick Viner (8.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg), Travis Gillham (3.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg), and Matt Wieland (6 ppg, 5.5 rpg).

Squiers believes his team is good enough to win the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division, but isn’t discrediting the competition within the league.

“I am not going to sit here and say we are the guaranteed champions because there are very good basketball teams in the north division.” Squiers said, “IMS (Iowa Mennonite School) is always tough. Winfield (-Mount Union) is going to be very good this year; Pekin is going to be very good this year.”

The Lions open the 2014-15 regular season Tuesday, December 2nd at home against the Columbus Wildcats.