Despite going 12-15 overall and 6-8 in the Shore Conference Class B South division a year ago, key graduation losses meant only three players returned to the Pinelands Regional boys basketball team for 2016-17. And with a new head coach leading the way, things weren’t expected to be easy for the Wildcats.

Such has been the case thus far, as the Wildcats headed into their Jan. 13 contest against division foe Lacey at 2-10 (0-5 B South).