Back on track after a rocky start, the Hazen boys basketball team isn’t showing any signs of weakness.

The Highlanders lost coach James Olive four games into the season and had to rebound quickly. Olive was fired after the team played in a jamboree without enough practices. Former Hazen coach Gary Schaplow took over the team.

“The way I started was very different since they had already played four games,” Schaplow said. “I’ve never done anything like that before. It’s an adjustment for everyone.”

Schaplow coached the Hazen boys team from 2001 to 2003 and had worked with Olive at times, which gave him some help stepping in on short notice.

“I walked kind of softly around it for the first few days,” he said. “The kids were kind of in shock. Then I just said, ‘I’m here to coach, I’m going to do things my way.’ We just took off from there.”

Schaplow’s style is to play pressure defense and run on offense. It’s working so far. Since taking over, the Highlanders are 9-1. After a 70-66 win against Kennedy Catholic Jan. 14, the team is 11-3 overall and in the driver’s seat for a Seamount title.

Center Brandt Graybeal is averaging a league-leading 11.9 rebounds per game to go along with 10.6 points per game.

“He’s a solid rebounder, real long and has good anticipation of where the ball is going,” Schaplow said. “I’m encouraging him to be a little more physical and he’s very, very coachable.”

De’Corrius Sampson is averaging 9.3 points, 5.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He leads the league in assists and is second in steals.

“He shows great discipline on and off the court,” Schaplow said. “He’s playing strong defense and really spreading the ball around well.”

R.J. Magar is leading the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game. Dawit Kasa is averaging 11.6 points per game. Michael Dampier stepped into the starting lineup when Schaplow took over and is averaging 10.1 points per game on the season.

Hazen plays Highline tonight, then has Evergreen, Tyee, Foster and Renton left in the regular season.

Under Schaplow the Highlanders have regained their momentum and are in line for the league title, though it’s still been an odd season.

“I don’t even have a copy of the coach’s handbook yet,” Schaplow said. “I’m just trying to go out there and win as many games as I can.”