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By BUBBA KAPRAL
PINE GROVE -- Valley enjoyed a successful 2015-16 season, gaining a berth in the OVAC Class A Tournament. Despite the loss of three primetime players, the Lumberjacks are looking for another winning campaign this winter.
Valley lost a dynamic and prolific backcourt through graduation. Point guard Trey Streets and shooting guard Tucker Cain were both 1,000-point scorers. Joe Preat, a 14-point-a-game producer and solid rebounder, also picked up a diploma.
Such losses could be catastrophic to most small-school programs. Veteran Lumberjacks boss John Kocher is confident his club can be every bit as competitive this time around.
"We can be just as good as we were last season," Kocher said.
His optimism is buoyed by the return of four battle-tested, talented and tall hoopsters.
Dylan Irvin is a horse in the paint for the Lumberjacks. The 6-foot-5 senior post averaged a double-double last season, scoring 288 points to go with 289 rebounds. His totals should inflate this season to help compensate for the loss of three quality scorers.
Irvin's inside play will be supported by 6-2 senior Alex Midcap. He netted 177 points and grabbed 139 rebounds last winter. He also can step outside and knock down a trey.
A pair of letter-winning juniors will play big into Valley's success.
Levi Streets, a 6-2 sharpshooter, brings athleticism and a nice outside touch to one guard slot. He drained 23 3-pointers a year ago while recording 19 steals. He will be the point guard.
Tyler Kocher has missed some early practices because of a football injury. The 6-1 swingman brings versatility and talent to the floor. He can go inside and be a solid rebounder as well as being able to knock down a three. He meshed 21 treys a year ago.
While Valley is solid in four spots, the remaining starter and bench play will be key into how many wins the Lumberjacks carve out this season.
Looking to fill those spots are Ethan Greathouse, Kyle Morris, Austin Lowe and Jerry Ebert. Lowe is currently a football-related injury.
This marks Kocher's 21st year at the helm.