Missouri Military Academy basketball finished with its best record in five years but believes it can win even more this season.

MMA had an 11-13 record under first-year head coach Gil Hooker and is shooting for the school-record 14 wins.

“I went and got three of the best athletes from the soccer team, providing depth and speed,” Hooker said. “I would love to break the school record of wins with sound defense and transition offense.”

Hooker has an experienced varsity roster of 13 players as he said five upperclassmen will be his starting five. He said the roster is a group with much speed and an ability to defend.

Kennedy Barchegi, Levi Foster and Bryce Mcllwain are some of MMA’s upperclassmen.

Fernando Puebla, Javier Jimenez and Lian Haddad will transition from the soccer field to the basketball court. Hooker said the all-state soccer player Puebla is an elite defender, Jimenez is a 6-foot-4 athletic sophomore and Haddad is a 6-foot-5 sophomore who is a great rebounder and defender.

Hooker said Todbileg Boldbaatar is a great shooter, Nyamdavaa, Buyanjargal Nyamdavaa is new but an explosive athlete and Gihana Honour Neza is 6-foot-8 so he brings size and length.

MMA had its third-best finish in a season with its 11 wins and had notable accomplishments like defeating state-ranked Belle in the Belle tournament.

“Our goal is one game at a time, get that school record and make some noise in our district,” Hooker said.