It will be an intriguing boys basketball season in Butler County.

Some big names have left or graduated, but some big names are back.

Robby Carmody returns to Mars. Ethan Morton hopes to build off his stellar freshman season at Butler. Ben Beale has returned at Freeport.

Grove City has a “Big Three” potentially in Isaac Thrasher, Martin Beatty and Brayden Martin.

Other teams are looking to rebuild quickly and prove pundits wrong.

Here is a team-by-team look at the season, which begins Friday:

A-C Valley

Coach: Andy Rapp, 5th year

Last year: 6-15, missed playoffs

Rapp isn’t about to predict how many games the Falcons will win this season, but he is confident of one thing.

“We are going to force the pace of play,” he said. “We have a nice halfcourt game, but we’re very adaptive and win or lose, we are going to do it on our terms.”

Rapp returns four starters from last season — shooting guard Dalton Callander, forward Jeff Ginn, swingman Eddie Stevanus and point guard Russell Carr.

“They had a good summer together and are capable of dealing with the pressures of the game,” Rapp said. “We expect to have great leadership from all of them.”

Forwards Brendan Price and Caleb Penny are vying for the fifth starting spot.

The Falcons have won a combined 13 games over the last four years, but Rapp likes the attitude with which his team has prepared for the upcoming season.

“We have a lot of tenacity and are very capable of winning basketball games,” he said. “Keystone and Karns City have been the benchmarks in the KSAC-South and we are going to try and take it to both of them. If we can do that, then we’ll know that we’re at the level where we need to be.”

Butler

Coach: Matt Clement, 9th year

Last year: 19-10, reached WPIAL Class 6A finals

The Golden Tornado graduated a bevy of seniors last season, including starters Tyler Frederick, Joel and Jace Stutz. Frederick is playing at La Roche, both Stutz boys at Butler County Community College.

Other seniors gone are Jefferson Ford, Ian McCarrier, Jason Gray, Cade Negley, Phil Vandegrift, Dillon Uranker and Andrew Yonkers.

“Besides the starters, we lost a lot of role players there,” coach Matt Clement said. “But we’re having a healthy competition for spots this year and that’s developing mental toughness.”

Two definite starters are guards Ethan Morton (13.2 ppg. 4.6 assists per game) and senior Luke Michalek. Only a sophomore, Morton spent part of the summer visiting Division I schools offering him scholarships.

Other seniors on the squad include guards Dom Schmidt, John Michalek and Doug Kostelansky, forwards Ben and Luke Kranbacher, guard-forward Tarik Taoufik and center Nick Stazer.

“Ethan will make players on the floor with him better and I’m anticipating a break-out year out of Luke,” Clement said. “Both of those guys will have to score more for us.”

Underclassmen in the mix include junior forwards Isaiah Scribner and Colby Anderson, junior guard Kevin King, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Luke Patten and sophomore forward Mason Montag.

C.W. North Catholic

Coach: Dave Long, 17th year

Last year: 21-7, won WPIAL title and reached state semifinals

The Trojans have a lot of holes to fill in their quest to defend their WPIAL crown.

Lost to graduation were leading scorer Kenny Fukon (15.5 ppg), 3-point ace Zach Offi (11.1 ppg) and top defender Vinnie DiNicola. Isaiah Wilson, last year’s starting point guard as a sophomore, was lost to transfer.

“The competitive element within the team hasn’t surfaced yet,” said Long. “Hopefully, once we get into the games, kids will pick up their play.”

The one starter back from last year’s team is senior swingman John Fukon.

“He’s earned his spot,” said Long. “We’re hoping that the pressure to perform will elevate his game.”

Of the rest of his players, senior center Brian Davidson has stood out the most for Long.

“Over the years, regardless of talent, defense has always been our primary focus,” Long said. “We’ve also been very patient on offense and will have to be even more so this year.”

Freeport

Coach: Mike Beale, 12th year

Last year: 15-8, lost in 1st round of WPIAL Class 4A playoffs

The Yellowjackets lose point guard Kevin Lynch and center Evan Schaffhauser, but bring back senior guards Ben Beale and Gavin Skradski, along with junior guard Jalen Brown.

“Jalen will run the point for us now,” Coach Beale said. “Ben averaged 16 points per game last year and hit about 56 3’s.”

Other starters will likely be sophomore guard Isiah Bauman and senior forward Damon Shiring.

Top players off the bench are senior forwards Anthony Aulicino and Brodey Cowan, sophomore guards Aiden Skradski and Garrett Schaffhauser.

“We had a great team last year that filled roles,” Coach Beale said. “Those voids will have to be filled for us to get back to the WPIAL playoffs.

“Jalen will be our quarterback out there. He’ll do a great job that way and our three returning starters have played about 50 or 60 games together.”

Grove City

Coach: Jeff Loughry, 3rd season

Last year: 20-6

The Eagles had an odd season in 2016-17.

They won 20 games without a player averaging more than 10 points per game.

“That’s strange,” Loughry said, chuckling.

That probably won’t happen again this season.

Senior guard Isaac Thrasher, senior center Martin Beatty and senior swingman Brayden Martin should provide plenty of scoring punch for the Eagles.

“I think we’re going to have a good year,” Loughry said. “We’re going to be better offensively than we were last year.”

Defense, the strength of the team last season, could be a question mark early in this campaign.

But Loughry sees that ironing out quickly.

“I think come January we’ll be OK,” he said.

Karns City

Coach: Chris Bellis, 9th year

Last year: 17-8, won District 9 Class 3A title

The Gremlins have plenty of holes to fill.

Chandler Turner is now playing football at Shippensburg. Ian McElroy and Noah Pollock are playing basketball at Butler County Community College.

A fourth starter from last year — Noah Kepple — is out for the season with a knee injury.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” coach Chris Bellis admitted. “But the talent is here.”

Jacob Friel, a senior forward, is the lone returning starter. Senior forward Nolan Riley and junior guard Austin Fahlor figure to be in the lineup as well. From there, KC will do plenty of mixing and matching.

“We may go 10 deep at times,” Bellis said. “Plenty of kids are going to see time.”

Among them are guards Logan Pistorius, Ethan McElroy, Eric Pfeifer and Chase Beichley, forwards Trevor Knox, Anthony Kamensky, and Nathan Waltman. Junior forward Trevor Callihan and junior guard Josh Wimer also look to see action.

“We are off to a bit of a head start this year,” Bellis said. “We played 30 or 40 games during the off-season, so the guys are familiar with each other. We just need to gain experience.”

Knoch

Coach: Ron McNabb, 6th year

Last year: 13-8

The Knights lost three starters in guard Austin Hannes (La Roche), Devin Campbell and Mac Christy. Christy is playing football at West Virginia University.

Josh Knochel, P.J. Gourley and Jackson McKee played key roles last season as well. Knochel is at Butler County Community College.

“We don’t have any starters back,” coach Ron McNabb said. “This is an extremely young and inexperienced team.”

Sophomore Scott Fraser will be the point guard with junior Julian Sanks and sophomore Jared Schrecengost also in the back-court. Forwards include sophomore Brady McKee, seniors Jesse Fesel and Ben Lucas.

Jake Scheidt is a sophomore who could see action running the point as well.

“We lost 98 percent of our scoring from last year. We have a lot of holes to fill,” McNabb said. “But these kids are showing great work ethic and a lot of cohesiveness.

“We’ve got an unselfish group of guys looking to make that extra pass.”

Mars

Coach: Rob Carmody, 20th year

Last year: 17-10, reached WPIAL Class 5A semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals

There’s a different feel surrounding the Mars boys basketball team practices from this time last year.

A season ago, the Planets returned just one player — guard Robby Carmody — who had any varsity experience. That didn’t stop the Planets from playing well into March before losing to Meadville in the state playoffs.

This season, Mars returns three starters and several other players who gained valuable varsity minutes on that team.

“The learning curve is going to be a lot faster this year,” said Coach Carmody, “though we still have a relatively young team. But I’m very pleased with where we are skill-wise.”

Robby Carmody, a guard and University of Notre Dame recruit, is primed for a highlight-filled senior campaign. As a junior, he averaged a double-double with 26.2 points and 12,7 rebounds per game.

But his supporting cast will have much to say about any success the team meets with this season.

For the second straight year, guard Andrew Recchia will be counted on to run the point. He averaged nearly 10 points and three assists per game as a sophomore.

“He still has improvements to make, but the way he handled things last year, he’s not only a great point guard but is also a scoring threat,” Rob Carmody said. “He’s getting some interest from Division I schools.”

The third returning starter is senior guard Cade Hetzler, who Carmody describes as “the best defensive player I’ve ever coached.”

Michael Carmody, Robby’s younger brother and the team’s tallest player at 6-foot-6, brings size and perimeter shooting to the lineup. In a reserve role last season, he pulled down 3.3 rebounds per game and hit 10 of his 28 attempts from beyond the arc.

The fifth starting spot has not been settled and Rob Carmody said it could change from game to game.

Moniteau

Coach: Jerry Day, 2nd season

Last year: 14-9

The Warriors were dealt a big blow weeks before the first tip-off of the season when senior point guard Jake Jewart was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

Jewart averaged eight points, five assists and three steals per game last season.

“He was a three-year starter at the point,” Day said. “Those don’t come around very often.”

Jewart, though, is still with the team, helping the coaching staff.

What’s left is a lot of youth.

Ryan Tenny is the only senior on the active roster.

Sophomore Ethan McDeavitt will move into Jewart’s role at point guard.

“He has a lot of promise,” Day said of McDeavitt.

Moniteau also has starting center Jared Lominski back.

Getting off to a fast start will be a key for the Warriors.

That has been a problem for the Warriors in the past.

“We played some tough games early and that put us in a hole,” Day said. “We dug ourselves out of it.”

Seneca Valley

Coach: Victor Giannotta, 14th year

Last year: 12-10, missed playoffs

The majority of Giannotta’s confidence centers around his offense.

“On any given night, these guys can flat-out score,” he said. “They are capable of scoring the most points per game since I’ve been here. It’s a matter of staying within their roles, playing as a team and paying attention to defense.”

Senior forward Chris Hart (6-foot-4) returns as the team’s leading scorer from last year, when he averaged 12.4 points per game and sank 32 three-pointers. The other returning starter is junior forward Marcus Might (6-7).

“Chris slimmed down and has grown a bit and Marcus seems more comfortable after playing the last couple of years,” said Giannotta.

David Ritchie, a 6-1 senior guard, is also expected to shoulder a good portion of the scoring responsibility. He transferred from Eden Christian last year, but had to sit out a year. His last season of varsity basketball yielded more than 20 points per game.

“He shoots from the outside without any effort,” said Giannotta, “but he won’t be playing just (shooting) guard. He will have to handle the ball, too.”

Slippery Rock

Coach: Randy Armagost, third year

Last year: 5-19

After a few lean years, this could be the season the Rockets turn the corner.

At least that’s what Armagost is hoping.

“They’re fed up with losing,” Armagost said. “They all want to be in the gym. When 5 p.m. comes and practice is over, they’re complaining.”

The Rockets lost leading scorer Ryan Dutton to graduation, but have plenty of options in his stead.

Nick Wherthey, a 6-2 senior guard, Rod Williams, a 6-4 senior forward, and Luke Brandon, also a 6-4 senior forward, are all poised to have strong offensive seasons.

Mitchell Houston, a 6-foot senior forward, Hunter Prementine, a 5-6 senior guard, and Logan Croll, a 6-2 junior guard, will also see ample playing time.

An intriguing player for the Rockets is Judah Roth, a 5-10 sophomore guard..

“He’s a homeschooled kid,” Armagost said. “He’s really going to help us.”

Union

Coach: Eric Mortimer, 2nd year

Last year: 8-14, missed playoffs

If the Golden Knights are to return to the District 9 Class A playoffs, it will be due as much to the play of relative unknowns as the production of the team’s returning starters.

The latter is comprised of senior forward Lucas Bowser, who averaged 19.1 points per game last year and earned a spot on the district’s second team, and senior guard Hunter Johnston.

Johnston ran the point on and off last season with the now-graduated Gavin Hawk, but will be expected to man the position full time this year.

“He can get upset when things go wrong, like a turnover,” said Mortimer of Johnston, “but he can play the position. He just has to commit himself to it.”

A number of talented players are vying for the other three starting spots as well as contributing roles off the bench. They include backcourt players Luke Bowser and Greg Duncan, frontcourt charges Layton Stewart, Nolan Cumberland, Truman Vereb, Coleman Buchanan and swing players Reice Saylor and Quintin Weaver.

“We are so balanced, their physical ability is very equal,” Mortimer said. “We are hoping to run eight or nine guys out there on a consistent basis.

“I believe we can get back to the playoffs. Most importantly, the players believe it, too.”