With four of five starters returning, Decatur Heritage Christian Academy enters the 2012 season with high expectations.

Senior guard Zach Ellsworth is one of eight players back from last year’s Eagles team, which went 23-8, won its area and advanced to the Class 1A Northwest Regionals.

Ellsworth is in his fourth year on varsity.

Ellsworth took a break from preparing for today’s season opener at Vinemont to sit down with Daily sports writer Bayne Hughes and answer five questions:

Question: How do you feel about the prospects for this year’s Eagles?

Answer: As long as we play together as a team, we’ve got a lot of talent and potential. If we get to where each individual is shooting for his points and worrying about his minutes, we’ll fall apart.

Q: What are your team’s goals this season?

A: Of course, our goal is to go all of the way. But we’d like to take that next step. I want to go to state.

Q: What is your team’s playing style?

A: We’ll be pretty balanced. We’ll take the fast break if we get it because we don’t have enough size down low to be a pure half-court team. We run a spread offense and try to beat the defense with lots of cuts.

Q: What is your favorite

music?

A: Anything but pop. I mostly like rock. I grew up listening to classic rock, but I like some of the new rock band. I recently went to a Journey concert with my dad.

Q: Thanksgiving is next week, so what’s your favorite part of the holiday meal?

A: You can’t beat turkey. It’s the traditional part of Thanksgiving.