Turlock Christian High’s boys basketball team struggled with numbers, height, and Southern Athletic League competition last season. How the Eagles stack up against the SAL in 2012 remains to be seen, but new head coach Eddie Sai has team size and height covered.

TC enters the season with three towers on the court, the sophomore pair of Jordan Riise and Kameron Vogtand and junior Ben van Vliet. Standing at 6-foot-5,  6 feet, and 6-foot-6, respectively, these first year varsity players are expected to create a new presence on the court for the Eagles. Their youth and size will be complemented by the experience and speed of three year varsity starter Jacob Joseph and junior Josh Wright.

“They’re here to lead on the court,” Sai said of Joseph and Wright. “We’re still working on things but we’re coming together.”

Sai, who fell one win short of a SAL title last season with TC’s junior varsity team, is tasked with turning around the varsity program who finished 1-13 in league last season. To prepare for the SAL, the Eagles have embarked on a challenging pre-season with Division V teams like Hilmar and Stone Ridge Christian High littering the schedule.

“We have a tough schedule leading up to league,” Sai said.

TC’s tough schedule continues on Monday when the Eagles host Elliot Christian High before traveling to Stockton on Thursday to face Brookside Christian High.