Boys basketball: Scouting Antioch

Coach: Jeff White, 1st season

Last year: 3-23, 1-11 (NSC Prairie)

Last year's tournament: Lost to North Chicago in the regional semifinals, 79-58.

Key players lost: F Mike Barakat, F Mike Siperko, F Ryan Hartman, F Sam Green

Key players returning: F/C Karl Nettigen, sr., F William Waschow, sr., G Emery Paramski, sr.; G Anthony Formella, jr., F Joe Gregory, sr.

Top newcomers: F Austin Vogel, sr., F Joe Lombardo, sr.

Outlook: With a new coach comes new offenses, new defenses-and often a new attitude. "We are looking at keeping last year in the past and never revisiting it," rookie coach Jeff White said of the Sequoits' 3-win campaign last season. "We will be considered at the bottom of the conference and division by most, but we don't plan on being there at the end of the season. We have a core of great guys and productive players who want to be the group that puts Antioch basketball back on the map." Karl Nettigen, William Waschow and Emery Paramski all saw considerable action last year and will be setting the tone this year as senior leaders. Meanwhile, junior Anthony Formella will lead from the point guard spot. The Sequoits will get some size and muscle inside with football players Austin Vogel and Joe Lombardo. "They are big bodies," White said. "They are coming off a successful football season and love to set screens to open up their teammates." White is hoping some of the success of the football program transfers to the basketball program via Vogel and Lombardo. "This summer, we introduced our new offensive and defensive systems and the players were really excited about it," White said. "It will take some time for us to feel that these are natural movements, but we are getting better every practice."

Opener: Monday vs. Maine West at Libertyville in the first round of the Maine West Thanksgiving tournament