NATCHEZ — Robert Lewis Middle School basketball coach Cleveland Watts is currently coaching the most inexperienced team he has had in his 12 seasons at Robert Lewis.

The eighth-grade team features 10 players that are playing their first season of basketball, but Watts said he still expects this year’s squad to perform at the level that has brought three-consecutive Southwest Junior High School Conference championships to Robert Lewis.

The Bulldogs are off to a solid start with a 6-3 record this year despite their youth, but Watts said his goals are higher.

“With the goals we set at the beginning of the season we would like to be maybe 7-2 or 8-1,” Watts said.” But I am pretty satisfied with where we are now.”

Robert Lewis is currently in second place in the conference with a 4-1 record with the only loss coming to Woodville.

Watts said the team’s youth is still showing each game, but he is seeing progress.

“We have a young ball club,” he said. “We have two starters that didn’t play last year, and we are still getting kids to buy into the system. We’re close, but we’ve had too many mistakes.”

Watts said once the players buy in to his system they will start to see improvements.

“They have to buy into hard work and basic fundamentals,” he said. “They get into that by being disciplined on and off the floor.”

The team’s four returning players have stepped into leadership roles this season, Watts said.

“Our point guard Malik Byrd is a team leader on the floor,” Watts said.

Watts said Jourdan Johnson is leading the team in scoring, and Travez Lyles is starting to find his game after having his best performance of the season Tuesday in a win over Tensas.

Watts said he has never had a losing season at Robert Lewis, and his expectations remain high for his young team this season.

“I hope to go undefeated the rest of the season,” he said. “We can do that if they do what they’re told and play good defense, protect the ball and make free throws.

“They are buying into the system better and as long as they keep their unity and realize there is no superstar on this team they will be fine. The key to success is hard work.”

The eighth-grade team is the only Bulldog team that competes for conference championships, but Watts said his seventh-grade team looks to be strong next season.

The seventh graders are 2-1 on the season, Watts said.

“If we keep them progressing we’ll be all right,” he said.

Watts said the eighth graders have three district games left before the playoffs begin. The Bulldogs will get another shot at Woodville in the regular season, and Watts said they will need win out and beat Woodville by more than seven points to win the regular season title.