HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Rams ready to rebound

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By Chase Lynn, Dubuque Senior seniorDUBUQUE - After finishing third in last season in last season's boys' state basketball tournament, Dubuque  Senior is hoping to strike gold in Des Moines this post season.“I expect us to be the hardest working team on both sides of the court every night,” said Coach Wendell Eimers “I expect to win every game and return to the state tournament and make it to the state championship game and bring home a state championship to Senior High School."The Rams finished last season with a record of 24-2. Both losses were to last year's state champions, Iowa City West. However, West lost four of its five starters from last season's team to graduation.Talent and height are two strength for this year's Senior squad. Four of the Rams' starting five already committed to play Division I or Division II basketball.  Six-foot-7 senior Kyle Haber and 6-8 junior Luke McDonnell  committed to D-I programs last month and 6-10 senior Seth Bonifas recently committed to Missouri Western University while 6-5 senior Lucas LeGrand play football at the University of Iowa in the fall."We have an unbelievable amount of size and I think that size has gotten lot stronger since last year,” Eimers said.Throughout the summer, Haber, McDonnell and Bonifas spent several days playing basketball across the United States with the Iowa Barnstormers, their AAU club team. While several hours have been spent in the gym for preparation this season, several more were spent in the weight room during the offseason.“We've been lifting three days a week and having open gym two times a week,” said Haber, who was named to last year's all-state tournament team in Class 4A.The Rams open their season Friday against Sussex-Hamilton High School. While the Rams plan to take one game at a time, they can't help but think about getting another shot at Iowa City West on Jan. 10.“I know all of my players have the Iowa City West game at Senior on Friday, January 10th circled," Eimers said. "The last two years we have played them in Iowa City and Iowa City West was ranked number one and Senior was ranked number two. Both games they handled us pretty easy, hopefully getting to finally play them in Nora Gym will be a difference maker."Senior's tall, talented and experienced squad is excited and ready for the basketball season to begin.“I'm excited to start practice and get playing with guys again,” McDonnell said.