A program that once led the way is now trying to catch up.

A coach who seemed happy with playing second-fiddle — then was let go — is now the one in charge.

A team that was in disarray toward the end of last season wants to reclaim its link to a lauded past.

Capital High boys basketball was a soap opera for the 2008-09 season. A season that began with expectations of competing with Española Valley and Los Alamos for the District 2AAAA title plummeted into the abyss.

The Jaguars finished fourth — behind even Bernalillo — in 2AAAA, their worst finish since the 2000-01 season. After a 9-5 start, Capital was a pedestrian 7-9 the rest of the way. During that stretch, the team's leading scorer, Reece Goodman, was dismissed from the team just before the 2AAAA tournament for violating team rules.

To cap it off, the Jaguars lost in the first round of the Class AAAA State Tournament, meaning they failed to reach Albuquerque for the first time in six years.

"It was just more selfish," senior Isaiah Bustamante says. "Guys just trying to get into the scorebook and stuff like that. In the end, it was selfishness."

"It was weird," says Goodman, who's back in good graces with the program. "The coaches and the players just didn't get along. "

It wasn't just coaches-versus-players.

Assistant coach Mark Senteney was let go a week after the season by then-head coach Ben Gomez, ending a six-year relationship that produced a state title and two runner-up finishes.

A week later, Gomez was fired.

Two months later, Senteney was hired as the program's fourth head coach in 21 years. It is his third stint as a head coach, having coached three years each at Mesa Vista and Española from 1997-2003 before coming to Capital.

"It was miserable for me, both coaching and what my role was," Senteney says. "I felt my role had diminished a lot, from where I had a lot more say. I was a very unhappy camper."

In many ways, the Jaguars find themselves starting over, and there are no complaints.

Yet.

"Over the summer, we hung out together," Bustamante says. "We were really trying to build that team camaraderie. We hang out a lot on our free time. In practice, you can tell we are together."

Senteney hopes that chemistry is a good sign of things to come. It worked out in Nov. 14 scrimmages against Rio Rancho and Mesa Vista, as Capital beat the Trojans twice and lost two close games to the AAAAA Rams.

"The chemistry is the key," Senteney says. "We are a little bit behind schedule, though. We're missing a couple of players and we don't have a lot of starters back."

The injuries are in the form of forward R.J. Adams, who broke his foot during the football season, and Bustamante, who sprained his thumb during the first week of practice. Adams is expected to suit up by the Capital City Invitational in early December.

Adams, a 6-foot-2 senior, is expected to add some depth and much-needed height in the post, while Bustamante (6-1) is a valuable shooter.

The Jaguars also have to wait until the end of January for freshman Mikey Lopez, a 6-4 post who transferred from Santa Fe High in the fall. He must sit out the mandatory 90 days as a transfer in good standing, in accordance with the New Mexico Activities Association bylaws.

Senior Joe Chavez (6-2) is neither ineligible nor injured, and he will be a welcome addition to a team that was outclassed in the paint.

"They'll be fine, once they start playing and getting into the groove," Goodman says.

Perhaps the key to the Jaguars success will revolve around the growth of 5-10 freshman Christian Martinez. The brother of former Jaguars Pablo and Jose Martinez, he continues the tradition of playing the point guard position.

Senteney believes he could be the best of the lot.

"He's a very good passer already," Senteney says. "I think the gene of not talking a lot of communicating was passed on to him. But boy, the kid wants to learn."

Goodman says he's learned the errors of his ways, and now relishes being a role model for the team. He's been named a team captain, along with Bustamante.

"I was stupid last year," Goodman says. "I messed around too much, but I learned from my mistakes."

Mistakes were abundant for the Jaguars last year.

They hope they've grown a little smarter from them.

Contact James Barron at 986-3045 or jbarron@sfnewmexican.com. Read his blog, the Read Barron, at thereadbarron.com.