KINGSTON — Jack Clearman is ready for his team to win some games.

The Kingston High School Buccaneers point guard and senior leader is looking forward to seeing the team perform well in its first season.

“It’s kind of like in football. This is the first year of the program and as a senior I feel a responsibility to be a good leader and help make sure this basketball program gets off to a good start,” Clearman said.

Even though he didn’t experience victory on the football field, he expects that to change in a hurry this winter.

“We’re going to have a good chance to win some games this season,” he said. “It looks like we’re going to run a fast-paced offense. I’m looking forward to it.”

Senior Bernie Anderson said the majority of the players turning out for the team have known each other for years, which he thinks will yield positive results on the court.

“We’ve all known each other since junior high and elementary school,” he said. “But at the same time its a new school, a new team.”

Anderson is returning to the hardwood after taking a year off last season. He last played as a sophomore at North Kitsap High School during the 2005-06 school year.

“I took a year off because I got a job,” he said. “It’s my senior year and I wanted to play a sport every season. I’m looking forward to our team having a good season.”

Buccaneers coach Tim Olson said he feels confident in his young team’s ability to succeed in the Olympic League.

“We will have a lot of young guys that are pretty inexperienced,” he said. “In a way, that’s a good thing because we have the opportunity to mold these players into what we want a Kingston basketball player to be. They’ve been hustling and showing great effort so far at practice.”

Olson said he’s focusing on the defense in early season practices.

“We’re going to rely on our defense to make our offense go,” he said. “On D we’re going to harass opposing teams into mistakes. Our defense will lead to a fast-break style of offense.”

While optimistic about his teams prospects, Olson admitted his team probably is behind others in the league due to being a brand new program.

“We didn’t have a summer league. Most of the other teams in the league have been playing together all summer,” he said. “Our team has a totally clean slate. I’ve never seen most of these guys play until practice began (Nov. 12).”

Olson said he already can tell Clearman will be the clear-cut leader for the Buccaneers basketball program this year.

“Jack’s going to step up and be a leader,” he said. “He’s polished, patient, plays under control and has a good sense of vision.”

Olson said Clearman isn’t an up-in-your face type of guy. He leads the classy way, with his actions.

“Jack’s humble and definitely leads by example,” he said. “That’s pretty much Jack in a nutshell. Whether it’s in the weight room, classroom, on the court. When other kids see him doing that they know what it’s all about.”

Kingston Buccaneers

Boys Basketball Schedule

Dec. 1. Fife (Home)

Dec. 4. North Mason (Away)

Dec. 7. Bremerton (Home)

Dec. 11. Peninsula (Away)

Dec. 14. Olympic (Away)

Dec. 18. Klahowya (Home)

Dec. 21. Sequim (Home)

Jan. 4. Port Angeles (Away)

Jan. 11. Port Townsend (Home)

Jan. 15. North Mason (Home)

Jan. 18. Bremerton (Away)

Jan. 22. Peninsula (Home)

Jan. 25. Olympic (Home)

Jan. 29. Klahowya (Away)

Feb. 1. Sequim (Away)

Feb. 8. Port Angeles (Home)

Feb. 15. Port Townsend (Away)