RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Cordova Lancers head coach Chris Collins has been on the job for roughly one month, taking over a program in desperate need for consistency and culture. In just a few short weeks it appears the Lancers have found just what - and who - they were looking for. 

Since taking the job at Cordova, Collins has helped the team win two games against Metro League rival Kennedy, including an impressive 74-46 victory at home on Jan. 29. In that game, senior Damajae Moses led the Lancers with 19 points, with three others scoring in double digits for Cordova (4-14 overall, 2-6 Metro League at press time) in the win. Aside from seeing the victory on the scoreboard, Collins wanted his team to know the significance of the league wins coming off of the season the team had one year ago. 

“We’re definitely seeing a lot of progress,” Collins said. “We beat Kennedy twice and that's a huge moral victory. Not just because it’s a win, but because last season they went 0-12 (in Metro League play). For them to not fall 0-12 again, I think it's huge for them to see that.”

Senior guard Ezra Tobin dribbles up court against Oak Ridge. Photo by Rick Sloan

It hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for the team, however. The Lancers have gone 2-7 in the nine games since Collins took over coming out of winter break. According to Collins it is all part of the process, as he looks to build the program from the ground up in the days and months to come. Collins, who is known to be a hard-nosed coach, has largely meshed well with his young players, some of whom are experiencing their third head coach in the past two years. There were some early bumps in the road as the team and coach learned one another, but one recent in-game experience appears to have shown the players that Collins has their best interests at heart. 

In a road game at American Canyon on Jan. 19, Collins told his players he would let them run the game themselves, aside from calling timeouts and making substitutions from the sidelines. The Lancers ended up losing 67-42, and it was at that point that the team began to understand why Collins coaches the way he does. 

“They lost pretty badly, and it was after that game they realized, they came to me and said ‘We need coaching, we need a coach, we need direction.’ They were willing to see and understand my perspective, and now they do. Now we’re rolling and there’s really no issue there.”

Junior Kaeden McDaniels goes up for a shot underneath the basket against West Park. Photo by Rick Sloan

With three games remaining in the regular season, including Senior Night at Cordova on Monday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Collins has some very particular goals in mind that he hopes to achieve before the season comes to a close. 

“I want to beat one of the teams we’re not expected to beat,” Collins said. “I’m a competitor, I’m still a basketball player at heart. I want to beat one of these teams we’re not expected to beat. Outside of that, I want the boys to enjoy these last games but still stay competitive. I want Senior Night to go really well. They didn’t even know if that was going to happen. I’m personally making it a point to give these guys a good high school basketball experience.”