The Charles Henderson Trojans boy’s basketball team has played 10 games so far this summer and head coach Shelby Tuck likes his team’s intensity.

In Tuck’s first year, the Trojans finished 12-10 and hungry to get things started this summer.

“It’s a great opportunity to get the guys out and try to play,” Tuck said. “We are trying to improve everyday, from the weight room to the gym.”

The Trojans currently sit at 8-2 for the summer season. Hard work has been a common theme in the eight wins.

“The guys are playing really hard,” Tuck said. “They have been really successful this summer. They are playing together and playing hard.”

They battled Smith Station’s in four overtimes, and even though they came up short they learned a valuable lesson.

“They were really down and they beat themselves up about it,” Tuck said. “It was good to see that effort knowing they were tired. They still got out there and competed. I am proud and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do.”

The Trojans will play four games in Tuscaloosa on Thursday and next week they will travel to Auburn to play six. They will finish the summer in the Alabama, Georgia Summer Slam in Carver on June 24.

“Anytime you can win, it’s always a good thing,” Tuck said. “We don’t play like we do in the regular season, but they are hanging in there.”

Charles Henderson lost leading rebounder Josh Roberts, who was six foot eight inches tall, and Tuck hopes to use speed and intensity to help compensate in the loss of height.

“We are trying to play a strong man to man to utilize our speed,” Tuck said. “Losing Roberts, the kids got lazy and depended on him to get every rebound. Now it’s got to be a group effort with everybody rebounding the basketball. They have been playing really hard.”

Tuck spent much of his first year teaching and implementing his scheme and playbook. This summer they hope to take the next step.

“It’s a grind,” Tuck said. “The kids are doing a good job at buying in. They are trusting in themselves. The biggest thing is confidence and getting them to believe in themselves.”

Tuck has always enjoyed coaching and working with kids and now in his second year with the varsity program he can continue to watch the kids grow and develop.

“I love working with the kids,” Tuck said. “It’s strange because I have been working with a lot of these kids for six years now. It’s defiantly a great joy to work with these kids and I am blessed to have them.”