Working hard.

That’s what it’s going to take for the Escambia County Blue Devils to find success this season, first-year head boys basketball coach Bruce Craig said.

“I think that we can be successful if everyone works hard, and continues to work hard,” Craig said. “I think we’ve got a good mixture and combination of upper class and younger class kids. We’ve got good chemistry.

“I think we can make a decent run this year,” he said.

ECHS is made up of five seniors, five juniors, one sophomore and four freshmen. The seniors are Devonte’ Lee, Anthony Fountain, Kentrae Boggan, Trae Thompson and Emmanuel Etheridge.

Last season, the Blue Devils were eliminated after the first round of the Class 5A, Area 2 tournament.

ECHS is once again in the same area with Jackson and Vigor.

Craig said the team’s goal is to make it to the state championship.

“We’re going to take it one day at a time,” he said. “We need to take care of the area, get some wins and win at the regional tournament.”

This season, the Blue Devils will be run out of a zone defense and a motion offense, shooting from the perimeter when given the opportunity.

Craig brings some 19 years of experience as a coach to ECHS. The Mobile native has coaching stints at B.C. Rain, Vigor and Carver High School in Birmingham.

Craig said he had the opportunity to go pro after college, but unfortunately it didn’t work out.

The Blue Devils started their season on Tuesday at Blount, but will be back in action starting today in a three-day tournament at McGill-Toolen.

The first home game for ECHS is on Tuesday against Clarke County.