The Wareham Vikings basketball team is heading in to the 2013 season with a strong squad of players, and sights set on the state championship.

“Every year we have similar goals,” said Head Coach Kevin Brogioli. “One is to qualify for the state championship, and the other is to win the South Coast Conference championship.”

The Vikings made it to the state championship at the Boston Garden last year, but fell to Danvers.

Senior guard Darien Fernandez is expected to be a formidable presence on the court this year, and will be shooting for the all-time boys scoring record. Fernandez currently has 955 points, and is thus very close to scoring over 1,000 points in his high school career.

Fernandez said he's ready for the challenge.

"I'm going to miss" high school basketball, he said. "My goal for next year is to play college basketball."

The current all-time scoring record, held by Aaron Struthers, is 1,224.

“I think when we have a player with talent like Darien’s, that’s a strength,” said Brogioli. “He’s a very exciting player and he makes his teammates better.”

At just 5’8", Fernandez doesn’t fit the profile of the usual basketball all-star, but Brogioli says that what Fernandez lacks in height, he makes up for with brute strength and competitiveness.

“He’s probably the strongest player on the court. He’s probably the most aggressive player on the court as well," said Brogioli.

Combine those two factors and the coach says, “height doesn’t matter.”

Brogioli also has high hopes for other members of the team. Center Jeff Houde, a senior, is expected to play well this year.

Houde is "ahead of where he was this time last year,” said Brogioli.

Houde is optimistic about the season.

"The first goal is to win the South Coast Conference, go as far as we can, and hopefully win the state championship," said Houde.

Quintin Silveira, a 6’7" senior, is also expected to play a key role on the team this year. “We’re counting on him for his rebounding and sharp blocking,” said Brogioli.

In addition to the starting players, Brogioli says there is a team full of players he’s counting on to take on whatever challenges come their way.

“We’re counting on players to accept roles," said Brogioli. "I have some people I’m counting on as starters, and we want every player to accept their roles.”