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RESERVE — The East St. John boys basketball team didn’t come out the gate guns blazing this season, but head coach Jackson Manuel said the guys have done a tremendous job applying new skills on the court.

“The first couple of games, people beat our brains out,” Manuel said. “Then we were playing close games, and we didn’t know how to get over that last little hump to win. If we can get over that hump, the season should take off from there. Even if it doesn’t, I’m still very pleased with the progress because I can see it’s going in the right direction.”

After a rough start with four consecutive losses, the boys found their footing and collected wins against St. James, West St. John, Archbishop Hannan and Glen Oaks. As of Friday morning, the season record was 7-10, showing a great deal of growth and a lot of room for improvement.

Manuel, who has previously coached the Lady Cats basketball team, expected this to be a transition year as he stepped into the role of head coach. He’s brought an old school approach to the game with a focus on defense.

“For a lot of these kids, that’s a new way of thinking about basketball,” Manuel said. “They look on TV and see a lot of running, running, running. They’re not wrong with that. That’s the way the game has transitioned over the years, but I’m a throwback. I firmly believe that if you can’t score, you can’t beat me. Philosophically, that’s how I want the kids to think.”

Defense is 90 percent will and hustle, according to Manuel. Excellent defense is especially important when competing in a 5A district.

“In this district we have Thibodaux, the defending state champions,” Manuel said. “Hahnville is always tough. Destrehan is in the mix, and Central and H.L. Bourgeois are solid programs. You don’t get a night off in this district. You have to bring it every night.”

Another challenge this season has been youth. The Wildcats looked forward to starting the season with a solid set of seniors, but that number has since dwindled. There are only two or three seniors on the team currently, supplemented by a handful of juniors and sophomores.

Senior Mark Meredith leads in scoring with an average of 15 points per game. He’s also a leader in rebounds with approximately 10 to 11 per game.

The boys are not just good athletes; Manuel said they are good kids and good students as well. As a disciplinarian at the school, he is making it a priority to raise the academic expectations of the team.

Assistant coaches Kyle Patterson and Elex Carter have been a big part of easing the transition, according to Manuel.

“They know how to work with these kids, and it makes my job a whole lot easier,” Manuel said. “Then again, I expect that from them because they played for me. They knew coming in what I expect from the team because they expect the same things.”

As for the boys on the team, Manuel feels the best is yet to come.

“They show a lot of promise,” he said. “I’m expecting big things before the season is over.”

The Wildcats continue district play Friday, Jan. 17 with an away game against Destrehan. There are 10 games remaining in the regular season.