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While undertaking such a long term project, you have to stop and celebrate the small victories along the way. And the Hatchet's noticeable improvement in a 72-55 setback against USA recently would certainly qualify.

"I saw a lot of positives and a lot of improvements," Quinn said. "The kids are coming together as a team, which is good...and they are playing much harder than they were the first couple games of the season."

But as has been the case in the past, a slow start proved to be Bad Axe's undoing. The Hatchets got behind 22-6 in the first and were never able to overcome the early deficit.

Quinn thinks that finding a way to get off to better starts is the key to the team's success the rest of the season. "We've got to get mentally prepared to start games," he explained.

"We are 0-5, so we don't have an advantage over anyone. We have to come out and start smacking people in the face like we got smacked in the face against USA."

Along those lines, Quinn thinks his players are over-thinking things on the court. "We've got to start playing and not thinking so much. If you've been doing it for years, you don't need to, you can just play," he explained.

That is why he is focusing so much time and effort into getting the younger players were they need to be. While he was at Caseville, Quinn worked with the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade teams for over 12 years, which was a crucial component in their future success. "(If they learn things when they are younger) when I get a kid as a freshman and sophomore, they know what I want," he said.

Quinn noted that Bad Axe's elementary basketball program will begin after the beginning of the year. He also said he sees positives in the freshman and junior varsity programs so far this season.

As for the varsity program, Quinn sees his players morphing from individuals to a true team. That was apparent when his players could be seen standing up and cheering each other on throughout their game with USA.

"We have been focusing on cheerleading a little bit," he said.

"We lose and win as a team," Quinn added. "We've been losing as a team and when we get that win I guarantee every kid on that team is going to be happy, not just the individuals who played."

"We will keep plugging away and we WILL win a game," he said.

The Hatchets return to on action tonight on the road against Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart.