The Highland Huskies are looking to recapture the form that led them to 20 wins during the 2019-2020 boys’ basketball season. Since that time, Highland has won a total of eight games, including going 4-18 last season.

If the Huskies are to make a leap, head coach Bill Zywiec’s team will be need some new faces to have breakout seasons. Five senior starters have graduated, with current senior Tyler Thompson probably the most experienced player after averaging two points and two rebounds per game last season. Zywiec tells KCII Sports who else will need to make an impact for Highland.

“We were fortunate enough to pick up a couple other seniors this year who did not play last year,” Zywiec says. “Logan Bonebrake and Ethan Paisley decided to come out for basketball their senior years, and they’re a great addition to our program. We have a kid who didn’t play varsity for us last year, Nick Oriano, he’s come a long way from his freshman year. You can’t coach 6’6″. You’re either big or you’re not, and he’s done a tremendous job around the basket the first few days [of practice].”

The Huskies were able to have some success in conference play last season, with three of their four wins coming inside the Super Conference North. Highland will start a new boys’ basketball season with a conference showdown against the Hillcrest Academy Ravens Tuesday night.