Vidalia — For Julius Wilson and the Vidalia Vikings, the playoffs started Monday afternoon.

In the first official practice of the 2014-15 basketball season, Wilson and some of his teammates got back onto the hardwood as a unit, preparing to build off last season’s success with a bigger picture in mind.

“I’m hungry,” said Wilson, who is the team’s returning leading scorer and is perceived to be one of the top-returning players in the Miss-Lou.

Wilson’s hunger draws from the Vikings’ early exit in the playoffs in February. Despite having one of the best backcourts in the area last season — Wilson and top-scorer Isiah Thompson — the Vikings fell to Brusly in the opening round.

“After that loss, I felt like it took something away from me,” Wilson said. “We put in so much work, and I haven’t been to the playoffs since 2011. So I’ve been itching to get back out here.”

Without the graduating Thompson by his side, the junior shooting guard and an experienced front court hope to build off of last season’s 20-win performance. Head coach Robert Sanders could sense his bunch was eager to get back on the court Monday.

“Just listening to them talk, they’re anxious to get back,” Sanders said. “We had a good June, and if they all stay with us throughout the season, we should be pretty good.”

Not all team members were present for the full practice, though, as players like Overton Lewis and Curtis McNulty left early for football obligations. Lewis and McNulty will represent the experienced front court next season, and though both are dedicated to football, each has basketball in the back of their minds, as well.

“I can’t wait until basketball season honestly,” said Lewis, who plays both football and basketball for the Vikings. “I love both equally, but I dedicate two hours a day for basketball, even during football season.”

Unassertive, Sanders wasn’t ready to crown Wilson as the best player in the area. Sanders did, however, say the Vikings have the best backcourt around, even with Thompson graduating. “I would consider our backcourt the best in the whole area,” Sanders said. “Malik (Jefferson) started to come on at the end of last season. He’s improved his shooting, and he’s always been a good passer. I need him to be more of a vocal leader at the point guard position, though, but he does a good job at passing the ball to guys in the right position.”

Last season, Wilson and Thompson averaged 33.1 of the Vikings’ 57.1 points per game, totaling 58 percent of the Vikings’ offensive production. Wilson averaged 13.7 points per game last season. He’ll be joined by Lewis, McNulty, Jefferson and Demarco Brown who had more each played in more than 20 games last season.

Because the Vikings return so much experience, Lewis said the team has a cohesive mentality to share the ball and spread it around.

“We can’t just rely on one guy,” Lewis said. “We have a high chemistry with one another. When we’re not playing in the gym, we play on the streets.”

The Vikings’ first game of the season will be on Nov. 18 when Vidalia hosts Sicily Island.