It's the beginning of a new era for the Emporia High School boys basketball team.

The Spartans are in their first year of the Lee Baldwin era. Baldwin took over for Beau Welch, who is now the school's assistant principal and athletic director.

Emporia is coming off a 4-18 campaign a season ago and will look to take a step forward this season in what will be a trimmed-down Centennial League. But with that comes opportunities to play some different teams.

"The Centennial League has gone through some changes this year," Baldwin said. "Topeka West, Highland Park, and Seaman - all state qualifiers in 5A last year - have left the league. Our league is down to six teams and with that our schedule changes. But it give us an opportunity to play some teams we haven't played before."

Emporia has the best of both worlds so to speak in returning a roster that is full of youth, yet also experienced. Baldwin is hopeful the experience his younger guys gained last year will pay dividends this year. 

"We have a lot of returning experience," Baldwin said. "We're returning four starters including our two leading scorers in River Peters and Parker Leeds. Our guys took their lumps last year as freshmen and sophomores playing in a really tough league. Hopefully, based on that experience and getting a year older, it will pay dividends for us."

Also expected to be key members for Emporia this season are juniors Cooper Rech and Sheldon Stewart, and senior Drew Hess. Baldwin is excited to have as much experience returning as he does. In Peters and Leeds, the Spartans return their top two scorers from last year, and having that returning experience will help Baldwin as he gets accustomed to the program.

"It's immensely important having those guys back that have in this league against high-quality competition," Baldwin said. "Nothing is going to surprise them in terms of athleticism, size, quickness, and change of pace. Those are the type of things those guys are experienced with." 

Baldwin noted he is excited to get the season going and that his guys have been working hard since the summer. He's excited to see what the guys can do in game action. 

"I think we've done a really good job from the summer to now," Baldwin said. "Our guys have bought in and our team chemistry is really good. Our excitement at practice is at a high level. If you walked into our practice, you wouldn't tell that we just came off a four-win season. I think our guys are bough in and hungry to get this thing turned around." 

Coming off a four-win season, Baldwin knows this likely won't be a year where Emporia takes a big leap in term of wins. But he has a bigger-picture vision that he wants to work torwards: having opposing teams fear playing the Spartans.

"I don't really have a goal in terms of wins and losses," Baldwin said. "I just want other teams on a nightly basis to look at the schedule and not look forward to playing against Emporia. If we can earn that reputation with our opponents, I think every other goal will take care of itself."