Like fine dining, the secret for success starts with a good recipe. Coach John Kefalas of the South Carolina Warriors is ready to start heating things up again in the American Basketball Association. Based out of the Carolina Forest County Recreation Center, the Warriors finished last year’s regular season with an undefeated record.

Even though they were a high-scoring team, the foundation of Coach Kefalas’ success is in defense. He still lives by the quote from his lifetime mentor and high school basketball coach, the legendary Morgan Wooten—“There is no glory in defense, only victory.”

For over 46 years, Kefalas has coached teams from the Indiana Pacers to the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers. Though his success on the court is nothing short of impressive, his greatest success is in the character he has instilled in the young men he has worked with. He receives hundreds of emails and correspondence from grateful players he has coached and mentored over the years. He is expanding his menu with the SC Warriors.

The team is returning this season with many of the same players from last year’s team—including lead scorer Tony White—although some have left to play overseas. The team hosts the Japanese National Team on November 30 and December 4. This season should again prove to be great entertainment, especially with the help of the Brass Warriors band and Warrior Girls cheerleaders.

Kefalas has always had a heart for giving back, and the team is reaching out to the community on many levels by working with local schools, Street Reach, Collin’s Kids and the Special Olympics. There is also a program in the works called “B-ball From the Pros” in which kids ages 5 and up can have a SC Warrior player analyze their skills and give them pointers.

For more information, call (843) 421-1427. The season runs through February 2013. The website is www.scwarriorsbasketball.com.