At this very moment Steve Flowers is a conflicted man. The side of him that works as the quarterbacks coach on the Pam Pack football team loves the fact that he and his players have been out on the gridiron practicing all week long, however, the half of him that coaches the Washington basketball team isn’t as thrilled.
As the football team prepares for its second round playoff game against Hertford on Friday, the Pam Pack basketball practices have lacked some key players.  For now, it’s a problem that Flowers fully embraces.
On the hardwood, Washington will return 10 of the team’s 12 players from a year ago, and trying to figure out how to workout the minutes for all those experienced players also falls in the “good problem” category.
“I’m expected that will make us pretty good,” Flowers said of his team’s abundance of returning players. “Having all those guys back is nice.”
Returning for his senior season will be Jimmy Williams, a 2011-12 WDN All-Area first-teamer who can play anywhere from point guard to small forward. Also taking a leading role this year will be junior wing Stevie Green and guards D.J. Bell and Trey Brunson.
Each of those players are capable of scoring points in bunches, but the key for Washington this season will be to maximize its possessions.
“Last year we weren’t very efficient at scoring, we took a lot of shots to get points,” Flowers said. “I’m hoping we get better at that this year.”
The Pam Pack lost two key players from its 6-10 team of a year ago as point guard Keane Graham and leading rebounder Jamal Moore have both graduated.
Bell and Brunson will vie to replace Graham, while Stephon Moore, Green and Williams will have to share the workload in the paint.
Without a true center, Flowers will run a three-guard system that will look to compensate for its lack of size with speed and quickness.
“What I want to do is rebound and run,” Flowers said. “We want to play pressure ‘D’, limit team’s shots and rebound and run up the floor … The rebounding is going to be the key.
“On defense, I haven’t decided if we are going to play a matchup zone or man-to-man, but we will probably do a little bit of both. We are going to have to play together, take better shots and rebound.”
If the Pack can do those things at a high level then it will greatly improve its odds of achieving its goal of making the postseason.
“The last couple of years what we’ve wanted to do is get into the state tournament,” Flowers said. “You have to finish fifth place or better to do that, so that’s our goal.”
While Flowers is minus players at practice, he’s hoping when the football players comeback they will bring their winning ways with them.
“I think one of the things we’re going to have this year is that winning attitude. We got guys who want to win,” Flowers said. “I’m hoping it will carry over from football. Once you get a taste of winning you want to keep it up.”