"When you're going into the season, you kind of hope that's how you start," said Thomas, whose team will clash with New Bloomfield at 11:30 a.m. Saturday as part of the Capital City Shootout at Fleming Fieldhouse. "You don't want to get your hopes too high, but we've done everything we've wanted to do. And when I say 'we', I mean these kids have done everything I've asked them to do.

"They've really competed their butts off; they deserve the start they've had."

This is not to say this is a surprise. The Eagles, after all, have all five starters are back --- and four of them are seniors --- from last season's 18-9 club.

"We knew we were going to be successful," Thomas said. "The question was, and this is the question I asked the guys: 'How successful are we going to be? That's in your guys' hands. How hard you work and how you (approach) practice every day, that's going to determine it.'

"I think their record so far is kind of a reflection of how hard they've been working this season and how hard they worked in the offseason. Like I tell the kids, 'If you really want to improve, you get it done in the summer.

"That's when teams surpass other teams --- and they really bought into that idea."

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THERE'S THE FEELING IN JAMESTOWN that this is their year. It almost has to be their year, because teams like this --- in communities of 395 people like this --- don't come around very often.

"They've even said that themselves," Thomas said. "I've never told them that, because I don't want to put any added pressure on them. But like I tell them before every game: 'You know what? This is a basketball game, you guys play basketball because it's fun. So let's go out there and have fun.'

"They've all grown up in Jamestown, which is special, and they've all played basketball together for a long time. But they do have that sense of urgency, I think that's what drives their focus every day."

There must be something in the water on the stretch of 179, because they're certainly growing them big. The Eagles aren't a big team for Class 1, they're a big team for any class.

"That's definitely a plus," Thomas said, "because we can cause teams (in our class) a lot of trouble. Teams have to adjust to that ... it really helps us out on the defensive end."

This sizable conversation starts with 6-6 senior Trenton Barbour.

"He does control the inside for us on our defense, and he also handles the ball really well," said Thomas, 26, a 2009 graduate of Cuba High School. "He's a very hard worker; anything he gets this year, he will definitely deserve."

Barbour is off to an amazing start this season. And when we say amazing, that is not an overstatement --- he leads the team in scoring (14 ppg.) and rebounding (10 rpg.). He also leads in charges taken. And blocks (3.3 bpg.). And assists (3.5 apg.).

That just doesn't happen, leading a good team in five different statistical categories. Unless you're very, very special.

"He impacts the game in so many ways, which is what makes him a truly special player," Thomas said. "People who've been around basketball a long time, they're the ones who truly appreciate how he plays the game."

Jamestown's version of the Fab Four continues with 6-3 senior Seth Wolfe who, like Barbour, is a four-year starter. Believe it or not, he's been an even better baseball player in his high school career, as he's earned All-State honors his first three seasons.

Wolfe, who's averaging 12 points and five steals a game, had the rare triple-double in last week's 36-point rout of Russelville --- 19 points, 12 rebounds and 12 --- count 'em, 12 --- steals.

Don't play this guy in a game of keepaway, you'll lose.

"He's extremely athletic," Thomas said, "and he has a great knack and instinct for reading passing lanes. I've been around basketball a long time, and I haven't seen anybody who can do it like he does."

Then there's 6-1 senior Austin Flippin, who's averaging 10.5 ppg.

"He brings a lot of energy, and he's another guy who's sneaky scorer," Thomas said. "He's probably our best outside shooter and he can score in bunches."

Rounding out the Fab Four is 6-4 senior Cole Theissen, who's averaging 8.5 ppg.

"He's been huge for us," Thomas said. "I think he's taken the biggest leap from his junior season out of the four this year. He's one of the big reasons for our success."

Next up for the Eagles is Saturday's game with New Bloomfield. This will be a rematch from the championship game of the Tipton Tournament on Dec. 2, a gritty 45-39 win for Jamestown.

"They are definitely a good ball club, very talented," Thomas said. "They have the (6-6 senior Jak) Kitchens kid, who will be a good matchup for Trenton. That's always fun for coaches and people who come and watch, two guys of that caliber going against each other.

"You always look forward to playing somebody that's this good, especially in the atmosphere we'll be playing in."

This is Game 2 of the seven-game Shootout, which starts at 10 a.m. with the girls version of Jamestown vs. New Bloomfield, and concludes at 7 p.m. when the undefeated Jefferson City Jays (4-0) square off against Battle.

"This is an awesome event, it's a special opportunity for our kids," Thomas said. "It's very well run, and kids get to play in one of the best high school gyms in the state of Missouri.

"It's really a special day."

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CAPITAL CITY SHOOTOUT

10:00 am - New Bloomfield vs. Jamestown (girls)

11:30 am - New Bloomfield vs. Jamestown (boys)

1:00 pm - South Callaway vs. Eldon (girls)

2:30 pm - California vs. Eldon (boys)

4:00 pm - California vs Hermann (girls)

5:30 pm - Jefferson City vs. Cardinal Ritter (girls)

7:00 pm - Jefferson City vs. Battle (boys)