Dayvin Guevara, Wyatt Kapayou and Gilberto Ramirez set up on defense against the North Tama Redhawks during the first half of their game on Nov. 30. The Redhawks came away with a narrow victory, 53-50. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

It’s the last season of a cycle for Meskwaki boys’ basketball.

After losing multiple long-standing varsity players to graduation in 2020-21, including T-R co-Player of the Year Taurice Grant, the Warriors are determined to get back to the regional finals in 2021-22 and defend their Iowa Star South title.

Head coach Joe Bear said practices have gone well in the early part of the preseason. He added that the Warriors will once again be a veteran-laden team.

“We’ve had a good run and this year, I think we’ll continue that run, I think we’re good enough to win the conference,” Bear said. “We’ve got six seniors, I think they’ll be fine, it’s just they’re going to have to accept bigger roles this year.”

Leading the way among those veterans will be point guard Larnell Bear, a senior who has been a consistent starter for the past two seasons. Comfortable with the ball in his hands, he projects as the team’s prime ball-handler as well as the head of Meskwaki’s intense defensive system.

Senior guard Larnell Bear takes a fast break up the court with North Tama’s Devin McKinley in pursuit. Bear is one of the team’s most athletic players who is able to create his own shot and play dogged defense. Though he has been a contributor on the varsity squad for multiple seasons, this year will be his first as one of the primary scorers needed to drive the Warrior’s offense. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Offense will not be as easy for the Warriors to find this year with the loss of guard Osceola Tyon to South Tama County. Dayvin Guevara and junior Wyatt Kapayou will be expected to take larger roles in the system.

Bear said the team is working with Kapayou to help him grow into his new role while capturing what makes him a scoring threat.

“We’ve been working with him all summer to expand his game,” Bear said. “Athleticism-wise, he’s right there with anybody, it’s just a matter of him getting a little more refined with what he’s trying to do on offense.

We’ve just gotta get him to attack the basket. He can get up to the rim. When you get up that high, there’s not too many in our conference that can meet you up there.”

While there will be a growing period offensively, defense is where Meskwaki has laid its foundations in recent years with a physical, fast-paced defense that mixes in trapping presses and junk defenses to keep opposing offenses guessing.

Forward Wyatt Kapayou works against North Tama’s Camden Clausen during the Warriors home game on Nov. 30. With the departure of several players off last year’s roster, Kapayou will have an opportunity to establish himself in the Warriors program, particularly as one of the few bigger bodies the team has available on the roster. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Bear said he might throw more junk defenses into the rotation this season. He also made sure to mention how much he liked the length of his players this season, which could allow the team to be even more disruptive in passing lanes than last season’s team.