Kirtland awaited the new division news with bated breath. With enrollment near the same as teams such as Richmond Heights and Lutheran East, the Hornets could only think about where they would be. The competitive-balance numbers pushed Richmond Heights and Lutheran East to D-V and other area powers such as Cornerstone Christian and Warren JFK to D-VII. Kirtland found itself in D-VI with only one team that made the regional round a year ago in Dalton. Coach Sean McGregor knows the district-qualifying Hornets have a different look than last year but have a lot of different pieces than last year. But he likes how they look skill-wise. “A lot of it is just consistency,” McGregor said. “We got a lot of our skill guys back, and that is important. We lost some athleticism and size in our senior group and some physicality. But we tend to have that. Vince is a fourth-year player, Lucas has a lot of skill. Aiden Hurd got hurt in the middle of the season last year and I think he would’ve helped us a lot in the playoff run. But he’s healthy and matches up well with Will Burd. “Add in the football guys, I think there’s a lot of guys that have played more basketball. Last year was more athletic, but this year it’s more about basketball IQ.” One of the key returners for the Hornets is point guard Vince Carriero. The senior is a three-year starter and has seen playing time in all four of his years. His vision on the court and finding the open man whether on the drive or working around the arc. Being a court general is nothing new for him and with the speed the Hornets want to play, he knows vision will be of the utmost importance. “I think we’re just trying to keep the same style, aggressive and fast,” Carriero said. “The new guys haven’t made a ton of mistakes this preseason but when they do, everyone is there to pick them up. That’s all you can really ask for. We need to be smarter and more controlled as a team and be more disciplined.” Kirtland also had the added threat from beyond the arc in Lucas Renfroe. The junior sharpshooter hit 18 3-pointers for Gilmour off the bench. He’s excited to don the blue and yellow for his hometown Hornets and have the potential to share a backcourt with Carriero. They share some qualities and skill sets but they also have their own abilities to impact a game, if the ball is in their hands or not. “Vince is a great ball handler that can handle pressure,” Renfroe said. “Aiden is great on the boards and defending. Hopefully there’s a lot of open looks and if not, I can get to the rim and make plays while also looking for other guys, too. ” Carriero added: “I’ve been trying to help everyone with the little things that I’ve learned through the years. There’s little, intricate things you pick up and I’m trying to teach them to be smarter and more controlled at all times. The calmer you are, the better you play. Having Lucas be able to spot as a knockdown is really helpful. He can hit shots to space us out and help us get to the rim and attack.” McGregor has been impressed in the preseason with their work from deep and ability to both be the voice of the offense. But it’s not just the duo that is leading the charge. Players such as Aiden Hurd, Will Burt, and the trio of 6-foot-4 players Ben DiFranco, Michael Dumstorff and Evan Koprowski will be key to the boards. Add in the football players once the season is over and they knock the rust off, the Hornets have their eyes on their first regional trip since 1999. “He’s fit in really well,” McGregor said. “Kirtland doesn’t need to ever teach competition. They learn how to compete early, and that helps with that. Lucas trusts in his teammates. He’s a good passer, makes good decisions. And I’m excited about where we can be. We’re going to be a different team. We can handle the ball well, pressure and we should be able to take care of things well.” Kirtland opens the season on the road with Berkshire on Dec. 14 but has a big home game Dec. 21 with Crestwood for an early leg up in CVC Valley play.