The Warren East boys’ basketball team fell just short of a couple of milestones last season.

Looking for back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1990s and looking to make it back-to-back trips to the Region 4 Tournament, a three-point loss to Glasgow in the opening round of the District 15 tournament put an end to those goals. The Raiders finished 19-11, going 1-4 in the final five games, a disappointing end to a promising season.

With plenty of experience returning, Warren East is looking to make amends for the disappointing finish and once again be a force in the district and beyond.

“I don’t think it is ever going to go away, but Glasgow was a really good team,” Warren East coach Kyle Benge said. “I think on paper they were probably better than us. We beat them three times last year. It is difficult to beat a team four times in a year. I don’t think our guys looked past them. I think it was one of those games where they executed and played really well.

“As well as our year went – 19 wins … . We are just looking forward to getting it going.”

Benge will have a roster that features nine seniors and last year’s leading scorer, junior guard Kaleb Prince (15.2 ppg). Senior wing Brenden Bratcher averaged almost 12 points a night – Warren East’s top threat from the 3-point line. Senior forward Dane Parsley will provide experience and rebounding in the paint, while senior guard Jordan Hogue will play a bigger role in the backcourt after appearing in 29 games last season.

The Raiders lost leading rebounder Ka Jarius Barber, but the return to the court of senior Wyatt Gravil is expected to fill some of that void. Benge said he expects Gravil to fit right into the power forward spot.

Chase Compton, Keaton Deel, Jacob Miller and Ethan Sloan round out the senior class. Junior Isaiah Summers is also expected to be in the mix after appearing in 28 games last season.

“They are a great group of kids,” Benge said. “When I started a couple of years ago, this senior class was really motivated (to take the program to) the next level. Losing last year really motivated us, but a great group of kids on and off the court. Having nine seniors, it is going to be difficult. This isn’t football where you can play all your guys at one time. I think that will be one of our biggest issues – to find everyone’s defined roles. If we can do that, we are going to be really good.”

The Raiders will be battle tested as well with a schedule that has added some perennial powers in the area – and the state. Benge said he is hopeful the tough schedule will have his team ready for a challenging district and perhaps a deep postseason run.

“Our district is really good,” Benge said. “Our schedule is beefed up. We play Warren Central at home. We play Bowling Green at home. We play McCracken County. We upped our schedule knowing that when we get into postseason play, anything can happen.

“Barren is going to be really good. Glasgow is really athletic. Allen County has some new additions. They are going to be really good as well. Night in, night out our district is going to be (a challenge). We are going to show up and play as hard as we can.”