The 2016-17 Kennebunk basketball team will have a much different look this season after losing eight seniors to graduation.

“So far this season, the team has been working really hard. With the loss of nine players from last years team came a different make up in what type of players we have,” said Kennebunk coach Barrett Belanger. “Everything we are doing, both offensively and defensively is completely different than anything we have done the past two years.” 

The Rams had a solid 2015-16 campaign, taking a 9-10 record into the Class A South playoffs and falling to Marshwood in the preliminary round.

Now, the focus is shifted to the development of younger players, who have a void to fill including the loss of 2015 Journal Tribune MVP Zach McKinnon.

“We certainly lost a lot with last year’s graduating class. Zach MacKinnon was second in the league in scoring and led the league in three’s made,” said Belanger. “Aside from his skill, he brought a competitve energy to the gym every time he walked in. (Former captains) Travon (Bradford) and Ryan (Couglan) were the same way.”

Although last year’s three captains have graduated, Belanger is confident that their mentalities will be passed on to this year’s club.

“Our returning players learned from them, and have carried that same energy back this year,” said Belanger. “Our senior captains have been varsity players since they were sophomores.  They know what the coaches are looking for and do a great job of leading the younger kids.”

The Rams are young, however Belanger made sure to give the underclassmen plenty of varsity minutes during their early years.

“We are young in age, but not in experience,” said Belanger. “Tripp (Bush), (Zackary Sullivan), and Cam (Lovejoy) are only sophomores, but they have just as much experience as some juniors and seniors on other teams because of their roles last year as freshmen.”

Another advantage of having a young core is hunger and competitveness, according to Belanger. Belanger looks forward to seeing what his team is all about in the coming weeks.

“Having a young group is a blast because they are eager to learn, and work hard every single day. They all want to prove something, they all want the opportunity to fill in and contribute right away,” said Belanger. “We are going to learn a lot about who we are over the next few weeks.”

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.