A last-second tip-in from Foster to lose by one point. A two-point loss to Renton, a one-point loss to Mount Rainier, a one-point loss to Evergreen after a 16-point lead earlier in the game.

Going into last season with hopes of a playoff run and coming out with an 11-9 record, these are the games that stick with James Olive and the Hazen boys basketball team.

“Those games are still fresh on our minds and these guys understand the pain we went through,” Olive said. “It was a good thing because they learned from their mistakes.”

Now in his fourth year coaching at Hazen, Olive has his best team, one that he hopes can get back to state for first time since 2002.

“We won’t take a possession off, we won’t take a drill off, we want to make the playoffs,” he said. “We want to go far beyond what we did last year.”

With talented and speedy guards in Decorious Sampson and Frankie Johnson, a lockdown shooter in R.J. Magar, and size up front with Dawit Kasa and Brandt Graybeal, the Highlanders have the ingredients for success.

Magar was a revelation early last year, draining three-point shots and scoring 17.4 points per game through the season’s first 11 games. Seamount teams adjusted, started gearing their defenses around Magar, and held him to 9.4 points per game in the final nine games.

“Once we got into conference play teams were double-teaming him and denying him the basketball,” Olive said.

Olive doesn’t see the team having similar problems this year since the team has six capable scorers.

The offense starts with Sampson at point guard. The 5-foot-8 senior averaged 7.5 points per game last season and led the Seamount in assists. Sampson is also a big asset on defense.

“He’s got the keys to the car and where he drives is where the team goes,” Olive said. “He’s probably one of the best on-ball defenders in the state.”

Johnson, a junior, is one of the quickest guards in the state and he uses that to drive to the hoop when necessary, either scoring or getting to the free-throw line. Johnson had the best free-throw percentage on the team last year.

In the front court Kasa, a 6-foot-4 junior, and Braybeal, a 6-foot-5 senior, give Hazen plenty of size to work with.

Kasa averaged 13.0 points per game last year to go along with 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals.

Graybeal is one of the league’s top rebounders and Olive said he’s added more to his offensive game than last year when he averaged 6.6 points per game.

“For five years I was at Tyee and didn’t have anybody over 6-3. It definitely makes things easier having those guys,” Olive said. “It balances our team out and keeps teams honest. They can’t double-team anybody on our team.”

Senior guard Michael Dampier will be the team’s key sixth man and even start at times. He’s able to provide some scoring punch when needed.

Hazen started the season 1-1 at the Les Schwab Tipoff Classic. The Highlanders fell to defending 4A state champion Kentwood 55-54, then beat league rival Renton 68-58 in a non-league game.

Hazen started league play at Lindbergh Dec. 8.