By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–The Helena High School boys basketball team is looking to build on its first year success after finishing last season as the Class 5A Area 7 runner-ups as well as being recognized as the first first-year program to ever qualify for the state tournament.

Helena tips off the 2015-2016 season with a familiar opponent on Thursday, Nov. 19 against Pelham at home.

Helena head coach Chris Laatsch is entering his second year at the helm and said one of the biggest things the Huskies worked on this summer was continuing to develop their system.

“The biggest thing this summer was just having more time to develop our system and the talents and abilities of our players,” said Laatsch. “We’re still in a new process and it’s not like our players have been here for four years since they were freshmen.”

The good news for the Huskies is they are returning 10 of their 13 varsity players that includes three of the leading scorers from last season.

Helena will look to rely on the leadership of Jon Brown, Jaylen Harris, Landon Genry and Trevor Smith as Brown and Harris will be scoring threats this season.

Brown led the team in scoring last season with 17.5 points per game while Harris averaged 10 points per game, respectively.

Another possible impact player returning this season will be sophomore Justin Stuckey, who has the ability to sink multiple shots behind the three-point arch and averaged 11 points per game as a freshman last season.

Laatsch believes one of his team’s strengths will be the ability to score while also improving defensively.

“I think we’ll be able to shoot the ball well,” said Laatsch. “I think we’ll be able to score the ball well and hopefully we can get better defensively. My hope is that we’ll take another step defensively this season.”

For his accomplishments last season guiding Helena to a AHSAA Sub-Regional 5A Tournament appearance, Laatsch was presented the James Perryman Coaches Recognition Award, but he knows his team wants to continue to build on the first year success.

“The kids talk about winning championships and getting into a championship and hopefully we will be able to win the area tournament,” said Laatsch. “I think they’ll be a little hungry to go further this season.”