KINGSFORD — Young and inexperienced players make up the Kingsford boys basketball roster this upcoming season.

Lost from a team that went 12-10 last season are Tyler Beauchamp, Luke Terrian, Nate Rutter and Andrew Mann. Terrian and Beauchamp both topped the 1,000-point career mark.

“This year’s team will be the youngest in 20 years with no returning starters and no seniors,” said Coach Dan Olkkonen. “My biggest concern about a team this young was going to be leadership, but we have had a few guys really starting to step up and buy into our plan for the year.

“The boys are working hard and starting to understand what we are trying to accomplish this year. We are going to have some bumps along the way but I believe it they stick together and we can get them to compete everyday we are going to grow all season long.”

Olkkonen noted the strength of the Great Northern Conference, as well as the Flivvers non-conference schedule. Non-conference foes include Ishpeming, along with area foes North Dickinson, West Iron, Forest Park and Norway. And, of course, the home and away series with rival Iron Mountain are annual games for Kingsford.

“There is no night this group can take off,” Olkkonen said. “We look forward to the challenges and want to get better each day.”

Kingsford begins its season Monday night at Houghton. The Flivvers’ home and GNC opener is Friday Dec. 13 against Escanaba.

Roster:

Juniors — Chris Carollo, Nolan Lavarnway, Andrew Paupore,

Hunter Bilgreen, Caleb Boone, Miles Slingsby, Carter Fraker,

Janak Hudson, Cole Bracket, Mason Staedt

Sophomores — Micheal Meneguzzo, Brody Kopp

Freshman — Nick Nora