[Stardust]

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Coach: Casey Smallwood (first year).

Last season: 10-16, lost to Jeffersontown 53-42 in 28th District semifinal.

Player to watch: Tyler Stocking, a 6-3 senior forward, is the top returning scorer at 7.8 points per game and led the Centurions in rebounding at 4.8.

Other top players: G Sawyer Hobbs (6-1, Jr., 5.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg); G Ivan Talley (5-10, Sr., 3.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg); G Jonathan Finch (5-11, Sr., 2 ppg); G/F Chase Darst (6-3, Jr., 2.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg).

Outlook: Smallwood, a 2000 Male graduate, replaces Clay Moody and got a late start after being hired in August. Stocking, Hobbs and Talley have the most experience, and Smallwood has been impressed with the play of Darst in the preseason. “The kids really, really want to be better … and we’ve really improved defensively,” Smallwood said. “But I ask myself every day, ‘How in the world are we going to score points?’ ”