If the first year in Kansas Class 5A is any indicator, Basehor-Linwood fans can start booking their hotel rooms for Emporia in March today.

The Bobcats finished 21-3 in 2019, and advanced to the Class 5A state title game in their first season in the class. Now can Basehor come home with their third state title under head coach Mike McBride.

The Bobcats have the firepower to do just that. While BLHS lost Jacob Coleman (Pitt State) and Kobe Sifford (St. Mary's) and other contributors to graduation, the Bobcats return a talented cast.

Senior guard Connor Younger (13.3 ppg, 3.3 rebounds) can fire deep from anywhere on the court. Joining Younger are talented sophomores Jordan Brown (6-foot-3) and Trevor McBride (6-foot-1). 

"We have the luxury of three sharp-shooting guards who are also great perimeter defenders," McBride said, entering his 16th year at Basehor (253-88). . 

Up front, improving big man Cory Davilla (6-foot-7) should boost his numbers of 6.3 ppg and 4.3 rebounds. 

"Cory's not only 6-foot-7, but is 240 pounds and has a 32-inch vertical," McBride touted. "He continues to improve as he only start playing this game during his freshman year. He has very quick fee, as he has proven he can guard the perimeter and is getting better at protecting the rim."

The bench holds depth with seniors AJ Cooper (6-foot), Chase Torkelson (6-foot-2) and Ethan Wilkinson (6-foot-2), along with junior Adam Peterson (6-foot-3) and sophomore Carter Bergman (5-foot-11).

"This team has many ways to win," McBride stated. "This will be one of the deeper teams we have put on the floor in the last 13 years."

The Bobcats have built up the schedule outside of the United Kansas Conference, playing in the Liberty North Invitational and a loaded Basehor-Linwood Invitational, as well as a matchup with Park Hill South in the 810 Varsity Sunflower Showcase.

"We will take a couple of hits this year as we build chemistry, but as always, we are looking for a trip to tate and we will see where we end up."