JUDA — The Panthers went just 3-20 a season ago and graduated 66% of their scoring — including the only player who earned all-conference honors (Gavin Kammerer, 8.1 ppg).

That just means there are more scoring opportunities for the eight expected varsity players.

“We will shoot a lot, and we will defend at a high level,” said Aaron Duecker, a 2010 Juda grad now in his third year at the helm of his former program. “We need to knock down open shots. That and defense will be key to our success this year.”

Avery Scheaffer, a senior guard, scored 6.0 points per game last year, the most of those returning. Aaron Makos, now a junior, averaged 5.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per night. Also on the roster this winter for Juda are seniors Toby Hosch and Hayden Valdivia, and juniors Mason Kammerer, Ward Steinmann, Corbin Mann and Lucas Powers.

“We could end up being around .500 if we work hard and do all the little things correctly,” Duecker said. “Everything is going to come down to how hard we work day in and day out.”

Despite the large number of defeats last year, the program tripled the number of wins from the 2018-19 season. Juda hasn’t been .500 since 2016-17, and the Panthers haven’t finished above .500 since 2011-12

Like in many previous years, the Panthers will simply lack the height needed to contend in the post with some of the bigger teams and players in the Six Rivers East.

“We will have to work hard for every single rebound we get,” Duecker said.

Duecker figures defending champion Monticello and second-place Barneveld will compete for the league championship, which he said is an unsurprising pick. The Ponies went unbeaten a year ago.