First-year basketball coach leads Dixon boys into new campaign

Winter is upon us, which means that Dixon's boy's varsity basketball team is about to start their season.

If you think you know this team, think again, because there have been significant changes since last year.

John Moraes is the new head coach. And, the Rams have dropped down from Sac-Joaquin Section Division III to Division V where they'll compete for playoff spots with teams closer to Dixon in size.

" I've coached 20 years of basketball and 23 years of football, at both youth and high school," said Moraes. " I was doing JV basketball, last year. When the varsity coach resigned, I applied, and they picked me to be the coach this year. After 20 years of experience I thought I was qualified, and apparently they thought so too."

The change to Division V will help Dixon.

"We moved down two leagues from Division III to Division V," said Moraes. "I'm sure it will be tough still, but I feel we're in a more suitable league to go to the playoffs. That is my hope, based on the talent pool that we have, and that is their hope too. They are just a bunch of kids who love basketball."

The season will have Dixon facing some familiar foes, as well as taking on a few tough new teams that the Rams have never played before.

"The games are all important because they take 30 percent of your preseason schedule and 70 percent of your regular season schedule, so they are all important," said Moraes. "There is going to be some tough preseason games, like Vanden, and then we get into league play with games Capital Christian, Mesa Verde, and Marysville. We're looking at a very well-balanced league."

For those looking to get reacquainted with the team, there are a few familiar faces returning this year, as well as some new blood.

Among the leaders of this team is Coach Moraes' son, sophomore Jakob Moraes, who is starting at point guard for the second year in a row, as well as 6-foot-5 center Logan Mitchell, and Jefferey Minor, a sophomore shooting guard who was Dixon's leading scorer in summer league.

"We only have two returning seniors, but I think we have a lot more young talent," said Moraes. "The talent pool coming up — with our juniors, and we have three sophomores on the team — is really, really good. We have one sophomore that starts, and we could have the other two vie for a starting position — they're that good, they just don't have a lot of varsity level experience.

"I don't think there are going to be any "gimmie" games, and I don't think there will be any blowouts," said Moraes. "It's going to be a great season to watch basketball. At least you'll get your moneys worth."

Dixon begins the season at Vanden High on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.