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The Goshen High School boys varsity basketball team will get their 2019-20 season under way next week when they head down to Ariton to take part in a Thanksgiving Tournament.

It will mark year two under head coach Daniel Powell, and with a veteran-laden roster, the Eagles hope to make a run at a state championship appearance in Birmingham.

The Eagles roster includes a bevy of returning players, including plenty of seniors.

“I have a lot of seniors,” Powell said. “I have a transfer coming in and he is looking really promising.”

The Eagles will be without the Dawson brothers this season. Both Dante and Caleb Dawson graduated after last season, leaving Powell and the Eagles to try and fill a void inside the paint.

“They’re going to be missed,” Powell said. “They were a really strong part of the team last year so we are really going to miss the Dawson brothers. We have some guys who have to step up this year.”

Dee Maddox arrives to Goshen as a transfer and Powell hopes to use him at the point guard position.

“I’m very excited about Dee Maddox,” Powell said. “He is a transfer coming in and he has a good jump shot. He can handle the guard position.”

Jeff Warrick, who played well down the stretch last season for the Eagles, will also be looked to log quality minutes as well.

“He was a strong player towards the end of last season,” Powell said. “I’m looking forward to him doing big things this year.”

Last year, even though they made it to the sub regionals, it was all about building a culture. It was a time for Powell to observe the program. This season, he hopes to build the team into a winning program.

“Last year I was just trying to figure the team out,” Powell said. “We had some growing pains up and down. We had a good season, but not the best season we wanted. I think this year I have more guys gelling together and they know who I am. I think we will have a better program now.”

The Eagles will be part of Class 2A Area 4 along with New Brockton, Zion Chapel and Samson.

“We have to be strong in the area,” Powell said. “We have to make sure we don’t take anyone lightly. Any given night you can get beat, so we have to make sure we are ready to play every game. Samson is always going to be a team and I see Zion Chapel, they got new boys in and they look pretty good. New Brockton has a new coach, so you never know what that is going to look like. We have to look at everybody.”

Without the Dawson brothers on the roster, Powell and the Eagles are looking to have a presence in the paint, someone who can rebound the basketball and push the pace down the floor.

“We have to rebound the basketball,” Powell said. “If we don’t rebound the basketball and make layups, score in transition, then we are not going to be real successful. We have to be tough on the boards. Losing the Dawson brothers gives me less big men down low. My guards are going to have to step up and play down low.”