sports@standard-democrat.com
BENTON -- Coming off a 5-15 season, the Kelly Hawks are hoping to keep moving forward in head coach Josh Eftink's fourth season with the team.
"My team is a very hard-working team," Eftink told the Southeast Missourian. "They've got some younger kids, but they are an athletic group, and they're working hard right now."
The team loses three starters from last season, including Brent Forck, Austin Wadlington and Gabe Felter. They return Josh Roberts, Gaven Ray and Derrick Garner, who all started last season.
Ray comes back as the team's leading scorer after averaging 16.3 points, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals per-game last season.
"Their experience is going to help us," Eftink told the Southeast Missourian of his returning players. "They're helping bring some of these younger ones up that are first-time varsity players, and they're really helping them out on teaching them how to play the game the way the game is played on the varsity level."
Kelly starts the season Monday in the Oran Invitational Tournament.