Having lost 10 seniors of last year’s Class B Section 9 Class B semifinal squad, the Highland boys’ basketball team entered the 2019-20 season unsure of what to expect.

“It’s a new thing for all of us,” Highland coach Mike Milliman said. “We have a couple of kids who have not played high school and we have a couple of transfers, so everything is new.”

And three players who are returning – Nicholas Ferdico, Ethan Thompson and Dante Baker – all saw limited action last season.

“I really do feel like we’re going to have a solid squad this year,” Thompson said. “Coming off last year where we lost 10 seniors, I honestly thought it was going to be a rebuilding year.”

However, for the Huskies, it doesn’t feel like a rebuilding year.

“I think we’re going to be good and get a lot of wins,” Ferdico said.

Even though the team has little to no varsity experience, both the players and Milliman touted the team’s chemistry.

“From what I’ve seen in practice, the team chemistry is amazing. I really do believe we have a shot at the section title this year. I am really excited.”

Milliman said the team is “pretty cohesive” and the new mix of players are working well together.

“They want to be good,” he said. “They’re having fun. They’re coming to practice and working hard every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first guy or the 13th guy.”

The Huskies have a solid core of eight or nine players that are standing out.

“Between those 8 or 9, they’re going to have to play for their minutes and who knows? In Game 1 and 2, you may have a starting five and in games 3 and 4, it may be totally different,” Milliman said.

Chemistry and cohesiveness aside, the Huskies will have limitations in some areas. Last year’s team had five players of about 6-foot-4. This year, they don’t have any.

So, Highland will have to compensate for that with speed, quickness and strong shooting.

Defensively, Highland will need to stick their hands into passing lanes and get turnovers. Under the basket, they will have to box out their opponents because jumping with other teams is not going to be an option.

“Many of these guys were very successful on JV level,” Milliman said.

“They had some really nice games. They worked well together and shot the ball well. We’re going to need to push the ball up the floor to limit the lack of size.”

The Huskies ended the third week of preseason with two scrimmages under their belt. They did well at a scrimmage against Saugerties and then faced larger schools at a multi-scrimmage in Monticello.

“Many of these guys were very successful on JV level,” Milliman said.

“They had some really nice games. They worked well together and shot the ball well. We’re going to need to push the ball up the floor to limit the lack of size.”

And the two senior captains will have to lead the way.

“We have to teach them what they don’t know, get along with them,” Ferdico said. “We have to just be leaders.”