BRODHEAD — The Cardinals entered the 2017-18 season banking its hopes on a trio of talented seniors — Justice Tway, Parker Johnson and Brekan Day. The three averaged a combined 44.5 points per game. 

Between injuries and some tough nail-biting losses, Brodhead finished just 7-16 overall and were bumped in the first round of the WIAA Division 3 playoffs. This year the Cardinals drop to Division 4 and will have the smallest enrollment of any team in the Rock Valley Conference.

Also this year, Brodhead will have to find new sources for its offense. Seniors Dawson McGinty (6-5, 6.4 ppg) and Dawson Van Whye (6-3, 5.9 ppg) played the most minutes of anyone returning from a year ago and will be looked at to provide leadership and points. No other returning player averaged more than two points per game last season.

While Brodhead hopes to push every team this season, the Cardinals are coming off a 5-13 campaign in the Rock Valley Conference — finishing eighth in the 10-team league ahead of Clinton and Big Foot.

East Troy is the defending conference champion, finishing 17-1 in the RVC last year, three games ahead of Edgerton and McFarland. Beloit Turner also returns a slew of talent and looks to contend for the league title.

Nonconference games for the Cardinals this year include Albany and Monticello, as well as Argyle and Parkview.