Northeast A boys basketball preview

Around the league

Three teams are considered the frontrunners in the chase for the league title – Riverside, Newport and Lakeside. Behind them, the rest of the league will be a scramble. … Newport returns two starters in senior Jeron Konkright and junior Chris Burgess and five other lettermen. “We have a well-balanced team and the boys enjoy playing together,” Newport coach Steven Bryant said. “We have improved tremendously on the defensive end. We need to focus on playing consistent basketball every night.” … Lakeside brings back three starters, but none who started every game, reports coach John Edwards. “We rarely had the same starting lineup two games in a row due to grades, sickness, injury and youth,” he said. He listed Cameron Gray, Justin Moffatt, Nick Christensen, Ryan Quigley, Spencer Reynolds, Dominque Watson and Cody Watkins as potential starters. “Depth and the ability to match up physically to many sizes and styles should be a strength,” Edwards said. … Riverside returns four starters led by Tyler Axtell, Dallas Shuler and Andrew Kramer. “We should have seven to 10 kids who can help us on any given night,” coach KC Ahrens said. “We have tough kids who don’t want to be outworked by anyone. They should be able to guard and hopefully put the ball in the hole better than in previous years.”

All-league returners

Two in Konkright and Axtell.