After falling in the District 11 6A championship last year and reaching the PIAA tournament, Liberty now looks for even more this season, as the Hurricanes come into the winter as one of the most hyped basketball teams in the area.

After a 16-11 finish last year, the Hurricanes look to build off their district run to contend for a title this year.

Liberty returns the best sophomore duo in the area with guards Jake Pukszyn and Blake Hargrove with another year of experience, but the ‘Canes did lose junior Dwayne Chess, as he transferred to St. George’s School in Rhode Island.

Chess was a third-team EPC selection and their most dominant big man inside, leaving the ‘Canes with an opportunity for others to step up.

Other players back in the mix this season are Jahsi Cole (Jr. G); Seth Ford (Jr. F); Jayden DeJesus (Jr. G); Andre Negron (Jr. G/F); Bryce Fenstermaker (Sr. F); Caden Vermuelen (Sr. G); Chase Dusseau (Jr. F); Angel Holguin (Sr. F); Quinn Lucas (So. F); Isaiah Medina (Jr. G); Will Palmer (So. F); Ngoli Croom (Jr. F) and Jurell Delaney (Sr. F).

Head coach Nigel Long enters his fourth season with the program that is clearly on the upswing.

“Entering this year, we have a young group, however we will be leaning on the experience of our three guards of Jake, Blake, and Caden,” said Long. “With our regular season and playoff run last year, we are hoping to use those experiences to improve this year.”

Long has laid out the framework of what his goals are for the team this year and it’s not hard to look back at last season for that blueprint.

“We want to get better each day and qualify for the league, district and state playoffs,” he said.

The Hurricanes travel to take on Bethlehem Catholic on Wednesday.