MOOSEHEART, IL - When Ron Ahrens looked around the court at Mooseheart's first boys' basketball practice on Monday night, Nov. 10, he saw a number of familiar faces.

Ahrens had coached all the returnees at one level or another in his nine years in the Red Ramblers' program. But Monday was the first time Ahrens stood before the team as its head coach.

"I think we've got a great bunch of kids," Ahrens said. "I couldn't wait to see them back out on the floor." Ahrens was named head coach this past summer after Jeff Perales left to take a job in Pennsylvania. In addition to being the boys' basketball coach, Ahrens' primary professional responsibilities are as Director of Residential Living at Mooseheart.

"I've been the assistant (coach) for nine years," Ahrens said. "It's something I look forward to doing this year. I don't know if it's been a progression, but I'm glad about it."

Monday, the Ramblers ran, did some drills, ran, worked a few more drills, ran again, worked on passing -- and then ran some more. In addition to wanting his team in shape, Ahrens wants his team to be able to play up-tempo, transition basketball this year.

"With what we want to run this year, we're going to have to be in peak condition throughout the year," Ahrens said. "We want to do some things differently than we've done in the past. I want the kids to play a lot harder and they've got to be in shape to do that."

A year ago, Mooseheart finished 17-7 and won its IHSA Class 1A regional opener before falling to Westminster Christian in the regional championship game.

Ahrens welcomes an experienced group for the '08-'09 season. Seniors Gabe Kendor, Ethan Grasty and Brandon Moreno were starters a year ago and have considerable varsity experience. Two other seniors, Davon Davy and Randy Martin, will also see much court time this winter.

Key juniors include Munir Smith, Shawn McReynolds and Jonell Crump. Impact sophomores could include Levi Chavez.

"We're exactly trying to get here a little culture that's about conditioning, wanting to play hard and working hard," Ahrens said. "I'm not saying we haven't had that in the past. But I think we're taking it to the next level. We want to get to the next level."

Mooseheart has won just one postseason playoff game in each of the past two seasons. But with the IHSA in its second year competing across four boys' basketball classes rather than two, Ahrens said expectations can be raised.

"I think we're on a pretty even playing field," Ahrens said. "That's why I want to get the culture up to where we're thinking about winning a regional (tournament) instead of winning a regional game."

2008-2009 Mooseheart Boys Basketball Schedule

Nov. 24 at Westminster Invitational 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 25 at Westminster Invitational 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Westminster Invitational TBA
Nov. 29 at Westminster Invitational TBA
Dec. 2 home vs. Leland 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 home vs. IMSA 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 at Paw Paw 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11 home vs. Indian Creek 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Luther South 3 p.m.
Dec. 16 at Kirkland-Hiawatha 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 at Illinois Lutheran 6 p.m.
Jan. 10 at North Shore Country Day TBA
Jan. 13 at Leland 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 at South Beloit Tournament TBA
Jan. 19 at South Beloit Tournament TBA
Jan. 24 at Elgin Academy 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 at Hinckley-Big Rock 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 4 home vs. Hope Academy 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 home vs. Luther South 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 home vs. Paw Paw 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 13 home vs. Westminster Christian 7 p.m.
Feb. 17 at Alden-Hebron 7 p.m.
Feb. 19 home vs. Illinois Lutheran 6 p.m.