Leadership and experience are necessities for a successful athletic team. Especially for a squad that is trying to rebuild.

The Northwestern boys' basketball team will be going through 2013 with only one returning senior.

"We are really only returning three players from last year who saw significant time," said third-year head coach Dan Eddinger. "So in the beginning we are going to be a really young and inexperienced team. Obviously that creates question marks."

The only returning senior, Collin Breidinger, will attempt to help answer the big question of how will the Tigers replace graduate Ty Richardson. The other senior on this year's squad is Justin Betz, who has a torn ACL and will be out for the season.

Breidinger will be leading a squad that went 4-12 last year in the Colonial League and 7-15 overall.

Through the first few practices, Eddinger believes the fall sports success is transitioning into the winter.

"I think the success of the girls soccer, cross country and football teams really are carrying over," he said. "I think that is making the excitement level high, but we are still a young group. Right now, I think the kids believe they can win games, which is great."

The other two returners for Northwestern are a pair of juniors in Cam Richardson and Josh Williamson. According to Eddinger, Williamson, who started at point guard last season, has also stepped up as a team leader along with Breidinger.

Richardson, who had a tremendous fall season on the gridiron, is questionable for the start of the season. He sat out the first week of official practice while recovering from an ankle sprain and a toe injury that he battled during the football season as well. According to Eddinger, he is improving, but is still not ready.

Some newcomers that will contribute more this season are juniors Logan Schwartz and Matt Archer. Also, underclassmen Jordan Storm, Kevin Shuey and Kevin Markovitch will be factors this winter.

"We have some kids that can shoot the rock," said Eddinger. "We have some kids that can handle the ball a little bit. We have some kids that are really good defensively. We have kids that are alike as players, but they all bring something just a little different to this team."

Despite those different skills, Eddinger is worried about his team defensively, as well as its lack of size.

"We are not tall at all," he said.

On the flip side, Eddinger said his players mesh well.

"I think these kids play well together," he said before a preseason scrimmage against Lehighton. "These kids want to share the ball and seem to understand that concept. This team really wants to push the ball and gel together. We want them to be a team that doesn't point fingers, but one that wants to bounce back."

This squad will look to improve and play together in hopes of building a district playoff contender this winter.