MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions are returning to the court this week with a team of experienced players after having no seniors last season. This year, Lions head coach Josh Kast said the team is going to use their experience to advance further.

“They’re a young group and they’ve been doing nothing but progressing,” said Kast. “That’s the cool thing about a young group of kids is they’re going to grow and they’re going to learn significantly throughout their eighth-, ninth-, 10th-grade seasons and by the time they’re juniors and seniors they’re able to compete at a higher level.”

The Lions concluded the previous season with a 13-9 record, qualifying them for the district tournament, where the team won in the first round against Cascade Christian Academy, but fell in the second round against Soap Lake.

Following this, Kast said, the team put in work during the offseason and found success in the BNB summer camp with the full core group in attendance and finishing with a winning record. This camp had the players showing signs of improvement in all aspects of the ball, which will benefit the team as they head into the start of the season.

“I’m really excited about what they can do defensively; I think that’s our strong point of our team,” he said. “What we’re building this team around is going to be around our defensive side, creating havoc and pressure defense and just making the other teams feel uncomfortable.”

There are two seniors on the roster this year for MLCA/CCS with SanTahna Ferguson and Brynlynn King. The seniors will be supported by some of the experienced junior players, Abby Stanley, Amelia Shopbell and Taylor Starnes, who was a transfer to the team this season.

Kast said each of the players on the team had to step up last season, with even the youngest players on the team filling in their roles. One of the key roles on offense this season will be in the hands of freshman Shay Kast, who made second team as a point guard during her eighth-grade season.

One of the major challenges this season, he said, comes in the form of overcoming the top two teams, Pateros and Waterville-Mansfield, which took second and first in the league, respectively.

“Really big mountain to climb when we’re competing against those two teams, but we know we have to get better and we have to try and close the gap,” said Kast.

This year, three teams from the Central Washington B league can qualify for the state tournament and he said that the Lions are going to use that as their ticket to go further. This third-place spot will be in hot contention this season with Soap Lake, Wilson Creek and Entiat coming into the season with strong returning squads.

The amount of competition in the CWB is something the coach said will be great for the Lions, as it will push the team to be stronger on offense and defense as they find ways to win against some tough opposition.

As the season progresses, Kast said he wants the players to grow an eagerness to want to get better and improve their basketball IQ, but to also have fun while doing it. The expectation for the future is that the Lions will work their way to the top of the league.

“Taking those steps to be contenders, that’s what I’d love to see them do this year,” he said. “Just being a very competitive team out there offensively and defensively.”

The Lions’ season opener will be Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Touchet.