No doubt about the cyclical nature of high school sports, especially in small towns.

There are a few exceptions of course, like Manhattan Christian, which is not bound by traditional geographic areas from which to gather players.

But the good thing about the cycle is that after some not so good years, it is often time for some good years.

That is the hope in Plains this year where the Horsemen return a solid core of players and a promising group of freshmen who may be on the verge of returning the program to its past winning ways.

Head coach Tyrel Allen, entering his seventh year at the helm of the program, loses just two seniors from last year’s team that compiled a 3-16 season record.

Gone to graduation are starters Aaron Pfister and Gunnar Gannarelli. Also no longer with the program is Eduardo Perianez, an exchange student who has returned to Spain.

But the cupboard is not bare for the Horsemen, who return standout guard Darren Standeford, a junior team leader, and lanky forward Anaya Loberg, who showed last year he can be a prolific scorer with several plus-20 point games.

And there is a new exchange student from Spain this year, Pablo Gonzalez who gives the team an athletic, tall forward to go with Loberg. Also being counted on this year is senior Zeph Dines, a six-foot post, along with Zayden Allen, a junior guard.

One concern for coach Allen is the lack of sophomores, as in zero, on the team.

“We have four seniors, five juniors and the rest (7) who are juniors. Allen said the team has three players who have never played basketball before.

“Our numbers (players who turned out) are down a bit this year but we have some good players back and we have some good height,” Allen said during preseason practices last week in Plains. “It’s early on in the process, but I think we will be a competitive team”.

Plains opens the season this weekend with a trip to the Hamilton Tip-off where they will take on Valley Christian this Friday, followed by a Saturday game versus Arlee.

Alec Cole, who like Allen is a former Plains player, is an assistant coach.

    Plains senior forward Anaya Loberg works on free throws during a preseason practice last week in Plains. The Horsemen open the season this Friday in the Hamilton Tip-off, where they will face Valley Christian. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)
  

    Plains head coach Tyrel Allen works on defensive positioning with one of his players during preseason practice last week in Plains. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)