BEATRICE, Neb. - The Orangemen basketball team is preparing for another season, hoping for a return to state, after falling just short last year.

When the Orangemen take floor later this week for their season opener, Head Coach Clark Ribble knows fans will see a few new faces on varsity.

“We’ve got a lot of new kids to our team in terms of varsity experience,” Ribble said. “We have seven seniors and two juniors who will play a lot for us. We have some competition with our younger guys… Our attention to detail and commitment to defense have me excited for the year.”

However, a name and Beatrice fans have come to know quite well over past few seasons is Crew Meints. The The senior who’s started for the Orangemen in each of the last two seasons says his prior experience will help him in his senior year.

“Think it’ll help me a lot,” Meints said. “I kind of like being a veteran… We’ve got a lot of young guys stepping up, some seniors who didn’t play last year. Just focusing on doing my best, be a leader and help everyone out.”

With those two prior years of starting experience under his belt, Meints will also take on the responsibility of being a leader this year. Something he says, he had good models for in years past.

“You know I get a lot from back when I was just a freshman or a sophomore,” Meints said. “Learned a lot from Tucker Timmerman, Bennett Crandall, Elliott Jurgens… It’s a lot of experience and you just have to try to be a leader and help the whole entire team out.”

A new face who will have a significant role for Beatrice is Trey Henning. After a standout junior year on JV, Henning has made the jump, with help from players like Meints and Coach Ribble.

“They just been kind of encouraging me, getting me to do what I do best,” Henning said. “Getting to the hole, finishing, just letting me be me.”

But Trey Henning isn’t the only "Trey" Beatrice will be leaning on this year. Another will be Treyson Russell. After a year on varsity as a major piece off the bench,  Ribble says he’ll take a big jump as part of Beatrice’s game plan.

“Treyson Russell will be our spark plug. He’ll make everything go for us,” Ribble said. “Henning had a breakout year in JV, had a great football season, and he’s ready to perform.”

For Meints and Henning, the biggest key for Beatrice to win this season is defense.

“I think Beatrice has always been known to have a good defense… If we keep carrying that on, have a good defense, the offense will come with it,” Meints said.

“We have to defense well,” Henning said. “We can’t have teams run all over us, so it’ll be a big key for us this year.”

Beatrice begins their season this Thursday, when they visit Nebraska City.