The Hopkinton Hillers varsity basketball team is approaching the start of its season.

Seniors Nate Carson and Cole Diesenroth both play pick-up with the team twice a week and have been practicing in driveways since summertime. With the temperature lowering, the team has started captains’ practices in their gymnasium.

Junior Logan Delponte added he and some other teammates have been lifting together, “which only makes our bond stronger.” “I’ve been putting my head down and grinding,” Delponte said.

“I’m excited to build a brotherhood with these guys and make it an exciting year, we will have fun. We have a tight-knit team despite only having four seniors. That will really propel us when we face adversity this year.” Carson said.

The team expects to win many games this year. A common goal is to win the Tri-Valley League (TVL) and go far into the playoffs, something that has not been done in over ten years.

The Hillers lost a few key pieces to their team offensively and defensively. Diesenroth knows the younger guys can fill in those missing pieces and his senior teammates are ready to step into a bigger role this year.

Just four seniors return for the team but “that won’t affect this team too much. We definitely have guys that can play” Carson said. “It definitely helps to have a younger team. The younger kids get a feel for the team early on and that helps the seniors lead the team.” Diesenroth said.

“We have a pretty small team,” Carson said, but Delponte hopes “he can fill that rebounder role that was lost from graduating players last year.”

The Hillers are not the only team in the TVL who have lost graduating seniors. “Teams like Westwood and Medfield lost a bunch of kids and some teams aren’t looking as good as last year. We should be better than most of the teams” Diesenroth said.

The season starts up this week, and the Hillers will travel to Norwood for their first game of the year in mid-December.