BLANCHARDVILLE — After tying Barneveld for the conference title a season ago, the Vikings have added incentive to take the Six Rivers East all by itself. With a crop of solid seniors, things are looking up for Pecatonica.

“We want to compete for a conference championship and put ourselves in position for a post-season push,” said Vikings head coach Matthew Fink, whose team finished 17-8 overall.

Returning for Pecatonica is second-team all-conference guard Colton Schraepfer, a senior that averaged 15.2 points per game when healthy. Senior guard Jaden Hendrickson was honorable mention after averaging 9.3 ppg, and senior forwards Zack Eaton (9.0 ppg) and Carter Ruegsegger (8.9 ppg) were also honorable mention.

Three other seniors — Everett Johnson (6.4 ppg), Jeff Saether and Jevin Mabin — also return, as does junior forward Bo Hendrickson (7.5 ppg).

Fink understands that experience and physical strength are his team’s biggest overall strengths, while depth and a consistent scoring punch are areas of concern. Fink also said that his team’s perimeter defense and rebounding will also have to improve if a conference championship or deep postseason run is to be.

Last season the Vikings lost to Barneveld, the conference co-champion, in the regional final. Fink said a number of teams could be in the mix for this year’s Six Rivers East title.

“Barneveld, Black Hawk, Argyle, Monticello, Albany, Juda — I think this league is exceptionally strong top to bottom this year. It is wide open, in my opinion,” Fink said.