By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

Change will be in the air this season for the Peabody-Burns boys’ basketball team.

New coach Bob Kyle inherits a trio of returning starters, with a pair being seniors, as he looks to improve on last year’s 2-19 record, which included 11 consecutive losses.

Whether it’s enough to turn the tide for a team that lists only one player over 6 feet remains to be seen.

What’s more, Kyle doesn’t have a ton of experience with only five returning sophomores lettermen.

Peabody struggled in all phases of the game a year ago, and graduation erased Austin Reynolds, Austin Purk, Jayton Scott, and Marcus Sanders. What little size the Warriors had a year ago departed with them.

However, Chance Elliott and Bryant Young are starting points for the Warriors, and their senior leadership will be a boost.

At 5-11 and 5-7 respectively, Elliott and Young fill out a speedy backcourt.

Junior Tyler Entz also returns. He can run the floor and push the ball, providing additional stability.

“Team speed and our willingness to work will be key for us,” said Kyle. “Our overall height and being a young team will probably be our biggest weakness. We have good senior leadership.”

With sophomore Caleb VanCuren the only player taller than 6 feet, Kyle lacks an established inside presence and scorer.

That’s not particularly good news, considering the Warriors were held under 30 points 8 times a year ago.

As a result, Peabody was only able to average 32 points a game while giving up nearly 50 and being outscored by 354 points.

The Warriors may have to make up for their lack of size with quickness on defense.

Peabody’s backcourt and abundance of its depth should be the strengths of their game.

The sophomore trio of Rocco Weerts, Jess Philpott, and Andrew Hauck could challenge for spots in Kyle’s starting rotation.

Due to the shortage of size, sophomore Jack Parks may have to play out of position in the frontcourt.