File Photo Oneal Jones After a 22- 4 season and a region title last year, Brookland- Cayce brings a fresh group of youngsters into the 2008- 2009 season. With eight graduated seniors gone, new faces will lead Bearcat basketball.

B- C does return a handful of players who earned minutes last season. While their experience is not extensive, it does represent an important link between the success of last season and this year's attempt at replicating those accomplishments. Senior guards Oneal Jones and Mike Passmore as well as junior big men John Coughlin and Jake Benton will be counted on for leadership throughout the year.

The Bearcats' top returning player, despite very limited playing time a year ago is Jonathan Rumph. After a strong season on the football field, Rumph, a sophomore, brings explosive athleticism and length to the guard position.

Coach Ricky Bouknight is stressing a shared- scoring attitude offensively, keeping the team from relying on a single scorer. Defensively, the team will try to take advantage of its quickness to create turnovers to lead to instant offense.

While the Bearcats are not projected to finish in the top half of Region V- AAA, the team is focusing on being as competitive as possible and surprising the pundits. With a rotation of seven or eight players, Coach Bouknight is trying to build depth so B- C can contend throughout the year with the toughest of competition.

With a young, inexperienced team, the Bearcats will have to learn as they go. But if the team can mesh during the non- region schedule and a Christmas Tournament, the Bearcats should be a threat in region play and may contend for another trip to the state playoffs.