New Lancers Head Coach Kevin Bridgeforth gives instruction during the first week of practice. Photos by Rick Sloan

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Entering this season, the Cordova Lancers varsity basketball team are finding themselves as a group in transition, and not just when on a fastbreak. 

After making the playoffs and winning first round games each of the past two seasons, the Lancers will take to the court this season facing new obstacles. At the forefront figures to be adjusting to a new head coach, as Kevin Bridgeforth has taken over as head coach. Bridgeforth, a former varsity assistant head coach at St. Francis as well as the head freshman boys basketball head coach at Vista Del Lago prior to that, brings plenty of experience as a coach and former player. Bridgeforth played collegiately at Solano Community College, then went on to play two years at Virginia Wesleyan University where he would become an assistant coach after graduating. He also has spent several years as an individual skills trainer in basketball, developing players who have played professionally overseas, with a few making it to the NBA. 

The Lancers began formal preparations for the upcoming season in mid-November as practices got underway.

Now at Cordova, Bridgeforth shared that his expectations for his team in his first year at the helm go beyond wins and losses. "My expectations for the group are for them to continuously develop every time we see each other," he said. "For them to become first class young men, and then great basketball players after that."

Although the team just began formal practices a week ago, Bridgeforth is quickly seeing some talent develop. Juniors Echun Portis and Makkai Stewart, along with sophomore Kaeden McDaniels have been impressive during preseason workouts. Overall, the new Lancers coach is pumped up by what he's seen thus far from his group.

Coach Bridgeforth hopes all their hard work will prepare the team for Metro League competition.

"Right now I feel very good about the potential that's being shown," Bridgeforth said. "We really were able to develop a bit of a pulse on the group throughout the early preseason. We had some open gyms, some conditioning sessions, and now that we're moving into a little bit more structure, I'm learning that this group really just needs to be taught." 

Adding to the new challenges for Cordova this season will include moving into the latest form of the Metro League, after spending the past several seasons in the Greater Sacramento League. For Bridgeforth, it just adds another level of anticipation entering his first season at the helm.

The Lancers have some promising young talent who figure to play key roles this season.

"I'm super excited, we're up for the challenge," he said. "Going into it a little bit blind is exciting to me because we really get a chance to see how well we prepared, and how much of the work we put in will actually be able to be applied when it comes to playing in league."

The Lancers will see their first game action of the season in a tournament at Rio Americano High School beginning on Dec. 3.