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Despite graduating several seniors from last season's squad including John Sepulvado this summer has been a solid reminder that the Dexter Bearcats boys basketball team's cupboard is far from bare.
We've had a good summer so far, Allen said.
We definitely lost four players from last year's team, but we've got a lot of key players back and so far our chemistry has been really good this summer and we've been playing really well.
Allen said that playing in the summer including such events at the many Rib City Shootouts is great for team chemistry.
It definitely helps you gel, because you've got guys coming up that played junior varsity last year,Allen said.
Just to get them in the mix and to try to get some chemistry together with those (returning varsity) guys (is key).
They've really stepped up and played well this summer, our three sophomores that are going to be juniors next year and they'll definitely really help us out at the next level this next year.
The Bearcats also return a good core as rising seniors Elijah Ibrahim and Will Guethle are back, plus sophomore-to-be Kyle Nichols.
You've got Elijah, you've got Kyle Nichols and then you've also got Guethle, Allen said.
He set the record last year for the most 3s in a season, so to have him back is big.
Then of course, we've got (rising) junior Campbell Neely that shoots about as good as (Will) does, so we'll have some really good shooters.
Last year Elijah progressed a lot from the year before, so we're looking for big things out of him this year.
He's definitely had a great summer and then of course, Kyle Nichols ..
played big for us last year and I think he'll even play a bigger role this year.
Neely is not the only promising younger player looking to see more varsity time, Allen said.
We've got Bryce Burnett and he's a really good guard for us, Allen said.
He's pretty shifty off the dribble, he can create for others and then when he is open, he can knock down the open 3.
He's definitely a great player for us to give us a lot of depth.
We've also got Ean Roper, who is a post for us, and he's had a great summer.
He's really athletic I'd say he's probably 6-2 or 6-3 and he rebounds extremely well.
He just has a great nose for the ball.
All of this bodes well as the Bearcats seek their third straight district title and fourth in five seasons.
We've definitely had a pretty good run these last four years, Allen said.
We're just trying to get to that next step this past year we went to the (state) quarterfinals and I know these guys coming back next year, they definitely want to try to get to the final four.
Hopefully we can get to the final four this (upcoming) year and we are definitely looking forward to this season.
But you've just got to take one game at a time and we've just got to keep progressing and getting better.
Notes: Ibrahim, Guethle, Nichols and Allen all have Three Rivers College connections.
Allen played there from 1993-95, while Ibrahim's father, Yahaya Ibrahim, played for the Raiders from 2000-02 and Nichols' mother, Christy (Johnson) Nichols, played there 1994-96 while her brother, Benjy Johnson, played at TRC from 1991-93 and Kyles older brother, Cole, played for the Raiders from 2023-25.
Plus, Guethle's grandfather, Mark Guethle, played for the Raiders from 1978-80.
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Additionally, Mark Guethle was a member of the Raiders' 1978-79 national championship squad, while Johnson played on the 1991-92 national title team.