Greenfield basketball

Greenfield Bruins (9-14, 5-9)
 Hope has turned to belief. That will happen when you record the biggest single-season turnaround in Greenfield school history.
 And four of your five starters from last season have returned.
 Winless in 2015, the Bruins came within two heartbreaking losses in the final week of making the playoffs last year.
 "We knew we'd be better last year,'' third year coach Efren Dominguez said. "This year we expect to be even better. The kids believe it can happen.''
 That being a trip to the postseason for the first time in four years.
 Dominguez had a plan when he took over the program, choosing to build with youth, while enduring the hardships of a winless 2015 campaign.
 That youth has matured over two seasons as Dominguez has three returning starters that have been playing for him for three years.
 "This group that I have has always been about the learning process,'' Dominguez said. "We've been growing together every year. The big difference this year is the confidence level.''
 Among his trio of three-year starters is Andrew Villagomez, who led the team in scoring last year at just under 15 points a game, while nailing 52 3-point goals.
 It won't hurt having Rafa Santibanez and his 10 plus points a night back, along with is playmaking skills at the top.
 "Our expectations are to play like a veteran team,'' Dominguez said. "We have a lot of leadership. We're ready to showcase our talents.''
 That includes 6-foot-3 post Sabian Jackson, who averaged nearly a double-double last  year for the Bruins, providing a presence in the paint on both sides of the court.
 "I like to mix it up with our two bigs underneath and spread three out,'' Dominguez said. "What we do will depend on the team we're playing. With this group, we've got flexibility.''
 Among the guards that will be in the rotation for Greenfield include returning starter Ubaldo Trujillo, who averaged nearly eight points a game as a fourth option last year.
 What Dominguez has stressed this year is finishing games. Last year the Bruins blew a 24-point lead in one game, and lost two games by two points down the stretch.
 "We let some games get away from us last year,'' Dominguez said. "We have to learn to play all four quarters to take that next step.''