Third-year Gore Pirates coach T.W. Estes called this new season’s team a “strong cast” of players.

The Pirates were 1412 a season ago and got to the Class A Regional Tournament.

The Pirates return their 1-2 punch of junior guards Tate Brooksher (5-8, 14 points and 1.5 rebounds per game) and Cain Cooper (6-4, 18, three). Cooper was named among “VYPE” Magazine’s top 100 high school boys to watch this upcoming basketball season.

Other players who likely will be counted upon to make strong contributions are 6-1 senior Ayden Cox, 5-10 senior Nash Thouvenel, 6-2 senior Duane Hunt, 5-10 sophomore Keeton Rowe, 6-4 sophomore Dane Gates, 5-10 sophomore Cruz Ward and 5-11 freshman Eli Munson.

“We return a strong cast with all scorers back with 30 plus games under our starting guards,” Estes said. “We look to make a strong run in the postseason. Tate Brooksher has the ability to score and handle the ball. Cain Cooper isn’t just an impressive shooter but he can score in every way. Keeton Rowe has the ability to stretch out defenses as well as attack gaps — and draw multiple defenders to him.”

Rounding out the roster are freshmen guards Cole Brooksher, Westin Scarberry and Benson Hunt, freshman forward Colton Frye and junior forwards Logan Markou and Gabe Hefley.