For the first time since qualifying for the 2014 Class AA state basketball tournament, Fairmont head coach Jared Thompson’s lineup features four returning players with numerous varsity minutes on their prep resumes.

“It’s nice to have three starters and our sixth man, who also started some games for us last season, back on the floor,” the Cardinals’ seventh-year mentor said in reference to Walker Tordsen, Sam Schwieger, Nate Kallenbach and Tyler Johnson. “Those guys are able to help bring our underclassmen up to speed in practice.”

When Fairmont tips off the season tonight by playing host to 2016 Section 2AA runner-up Belle Plaine in a 7:30 p.m. non-league clash at Cardinal Gym, Thompson already knows his nine-player rotation — albeit his lineup is not carved in stone.

“We’ll go with our starting five that played together for most of the summer league games,” said Thompson, “and then rotate in our next four guys at the post and guard spots.”

Thompson will turn to a pair of all-Big South choices in the 6-foot-7 Tordsen and 6-2 Schwieger to solidify a highly-skilled first five that includes Kallenbach, Johnson and junior Derek Missling to test the waters against Belle Plaine.

Tordsen, a two-time Sentinel All-Area and all-Big South selection, will handle the Cardinals’ center duties for a third consecutive campaign after topping the red-and-white in scoring (14.2 points per game), rebounding (7.4 rpg) and blocked shots (43) a year ago.

Schwieger brings a 10.1-point scoring clip to the backcourt, including 33 trifectas, to complement 52 assists and 28 steals, while the defensive-minded Kallenbach returns after averaging 5.4 points per outing to go with 43 assists and 25 steals.

The 6-1 Johnson connected on 18 3-pointers last season en route to nearly four points per game, and brings a floor presence to the Cardinals’ rotation.

Missling, who has grown nearly 8 inches since his freshman campaign, will utilize his 6-6 frame in the low post this winter after making the transition from the backcourt to the frontcourt in 2015-16.

“I’m proud of the way that our seniors have stepped up and are talking more this season already,” Thompson said in reference to Johnson, Tordsen, guard Carter Lloyd and newcomer Giovanni Barrientos, whose family recently moved to Fairmont. “In addition to improved communication, I think we’re a versatile team both offensively and defensively this year.”

Thompson has the option to “go big” by inserting 6-2 sophomore post player Lucas Denney into the lineup or to “go smaller” to some degree by putting 6-1 junior swingman Brady Allen onto the hardwood court.

Wyatt Quiring, a 6-2 junior forward, and Lloyd will work into the mix, along with junior guards Darrin Thingstad and Christian Burmeister, along with 6-2 junior post Carter Klanderud and 6-1 sophomore forward Dustin Schultz.

“Two of the keys to our season will center around becoming consistent shooters and limiting our turnovers,” said Thompson. “Those two aspects come down to taking a better shot selection and doing a better job of handling the basketball and making the right decisions.”

According to Thompson, Marshall will be a “cut above the rest of the Big South,” so his goal within the conference will be to compete with the rest of the top-half rivals.

“I don’t know how we’ll start the season, but our goal at the end of the year is to compete with any team in our section in the playoffs,” said Thompson, whose lineup will look to improve on a 15-10 overall record and first-round Section 2AA, South Sub-Section exit.

“It’s going to be fun watching this group take their games to the next level.

“Now we just need to run the right plays on offense, and trust each other on defense.”