Staff Photo by Jake Olson: Front: Coach Phillip Rotunda, Caiden Loken, Michael McCorkel, Lixon Forsberg, Carson Scheff, Tanner Anderson, Knox Larson, Coach Tyler Wille. Back: Jackson Wilmes, Colby Kuehl, Talon Ebeling, Brycen Kettner, Landen Winter, Kayden Glidden, Liam Pytlieski, Bradyn Schubert

TRIMONT – It will be a completely different team for this season’s Martin County West High School boys basketball program. Head coach Phillip Rotunda enters the winter campaign looking to replace a very senior-heavy squad from the year prior, saying seven of the eight players getting significant minutes are now gone from the roster.

Two big names the Mavericks will be without are 2025 All-Sentinel Boys Basketball honorees Jacob Wilmes and Kale Larson.

Wilmes was a 1,000-point scorer during his time with Martin County West, finishing his senior season averaging 18 points and nine rebounds per game. Larson was the team’s second leading scorer, tallying 12 points, five rebounds and four assists per contest.

Lucas Larson, Jeremiah Olson, Josh Roben and Kane Sharp are some other faces Rotunda will have to replace with the upcoming classes of athletes.

“We were very senior heavy,” Rotunda said. “Seven of the eight guys who played big minutes were seniors last year, and so we have a lot to replace.”

Outside of senior Chase Owens coming back for his third year at the varsity level, the rest of Rotunda’s squad will be new faces trying to make their mark. Junior Lixon Forsberg and sophomore Jackson Wilmes will work their way into the starting backcourt.

Rotunda will look towards this year’s senior class to make the jump from junior varsity this season. Talon Ebeling, Brycen Kettner, Colby Kuehl and Michael McCorkell are expected to see a big jump in minutes compared to the previous season.

“They all had some minutes last year on the JV to be able to prepare for this year and keep the repetition going,” Rotunda said.

Martin County West’s offense this season will start with a slower tempo as team chemistry and lineup rotations take further shape. When in the halfcourt, Rotunda aims to implement a more set-oriented play style, setting up his roster with easy looks to the basket or to an open man.

“It will be a lot of different sets depending on what they are doing,” Rotunda said. “Just trying to get them set up for easier looks instead of isolation, where it’s just one-on-one.”

Rotunda’s biggest goal for this season’s team is to maintain consistent growth. While the early portions of the year will take some adjustments with so many new faces, Rotunda wants the players to buy into the process, continuing to develop and learn from one another day by day.

“I think a lot of it is understanding we have a lot of growth when transitioning from the JV to the varsity level,” Rotunda said. “Just having that goal of growth throughout the season. … It’s good for them to see that competition and to see that level we need to get to.”