The Highland Huskies are looking to take some big steps forward in boys’ basketball this winter. Highland is trying to make a jump from just three wins last season and will be trying replace graduated Nic Oriano, who previously led the team in scoring and rebounding.

The Huskies do return starters like senior Logan McFarland, who averaged nearly six points, four rebounds and one steal per game last season. Senior Louis Horak and junior Bryce Hazelett are also back after combining to average 10 points and six rebounds a game.

Head coach Bill Zywiec tells KCII Sports that Highland is starting to find the right chemistry and the right type of buy-in.

“Towards the end of [last] season,” Zywiec says, “I think we really started to come together as a team. Once our season ended, I had kids in the gym the very next week. They were dedicated [and] they were not happy with how we finished.”

“The progress I’ve seen from the end of our [last] season [until] right now has been tremendous with [the players’] effort and their dedication to getting into the gym every day.”

The Huskies will have tip-off of their new boys’ basketball season December 3rd against Hillcrest Academy.