CATLIN — It comes as a surprise to most people that the Salt Fork Storm has never won a conference championship in boys basketball.

Last season, the Storm went 28-4 capturing a regional title and winning several tournaments during the season, but the Vermilion Valley Conference title was taken by the Chrisman Cardinals.

The Storm returns all five starters from last year and is looking for even more success this season.

“Catlin and Jamaica won conference titles but since the schools came together we haven’t, so the VVC title will be an initial goal for us,” said Storm coach Aaron Hird. “We have very high expectations and should be as big as any Class 1A team in the entire state. The sky is the limit this season.”

The Storm will focus on utilizing the size advantage they have with their starting lineup of Joel Learnard, Joe Pratt, Josh Chandler, Matthew Fathauer, and Nathan Anderson. They will also feature a very deep bench.

“We are not going to take a lot of quick shots,” Hird said. “We will work our offense to get good shots. We will also focus on playing tough defense and put pressure on people. Jake Manning and Ryan McCord will play key roles off the bench for us as will David Sacre, who is a good athlete who played a key role on the football team and Ryan Eisenhower, who transferred in from Schlarman.

“Ryan has a unique chance to get some playing time because we have so much size that we don’t have many guards and he has the skills to potentially make things happen.”

Hird saw practice as key for success this season.

“We are deep enough that we can have good competition in practice,” he said. “We have ten kids who can play and that will help everyone to improve each time we take the floor.”

The Storm open their season today at the Tri-County Tournament in Oakland.

Following a somewhat slow start last season, the Cardinals went 13-0 in conference play to claim the VVC title. They lost a combined 28 points and 9 rebounds per game with the graduations of Logan Ross and Matt Morris, but coach Shawn Nugent felt their contributions could be replaced in part by the return of Zack Parsons.

“Zack averaged 17 points per game as a sophomore, but missed all last season following a car accident,” Nugent said. “Sophomore Derrick McMormick will also be joining the team and will see a lot of time. We are going to be the same up tempo style of team we have always been. We will hope to cause trouble with our pressure defense and it will be our best offense.”

One of the Cardinals’ main goals will be 20 wins.

“We have a very competitive non conference schedule and the VVC will be tough, but I think we can get there,” he said. “If the seedings work out, I think we can give a run at a regional title and I’m looking forward to another good season.”

The Cardinals also open today with a 6:30 pm tip-off against St. Thomas More at the Schlarman Topper Classic.

The Oakwood Comets lost top scorer Brady Leeman to graduation and will be a very young and mostly inexperienced team this season.

“Our seniors — Doug Pierce and Trace McClintock — have started a combined two games,” said Comets coach Jesse Johnson. “Juniors John & Joe Garrett along with Casey Fletcher saw a lot of time last season and they need to build on what they learned. We will have to grow up fast.”

Johnson saw several keys to his team’s success.

“More focus, intensity and attention to detail will help us improve,” he said. “We need to play better team defense and to have more awareness on offense. Adam Cundiff has shown a lot of growth in his game from last year. If we hold at home and get a few wins on the road, I think we can move up in the conference.”

The Comets also open today at the Topper Classic, taking on Schlarman at 8 p.m.

The Hilltoppers lost Nathan Liggett, Vinnie Miller, and James Cook to graduation, but return key players Zane Dillon, Michael Bateman, Nathan Tissier and Refugio Guerrero for coach Pat Kelly, who will look to build on the progress of last season following a one-win season in 2007-08.

The Westville Tigers lost three starters to graduation including top scoring threats Dustin Billings and Chris Hathaway.

“We should have a good balance of inside and outside scoring this season,” said Tigers coach Jeff Millis. “Solid ball handling and defense will be the strengths of the team. We want to improve each week and to be playing our best at regional time.” The Tigers open Dec. 1 at Villa Grove.

The Bismarck-Henning Blue Devils return leading scorer Michael Grant and have a talented group of sophomores, led by Tanner Ribbe and Stephen Krout, who will look to take the next step forward under second year coach Deon Mennenga.

The Hoopeston Area Cornjerkers lost Clayton Snyder to graduation and Dillon Eighner to injury, but return Brad Lawson, Andrew Vaughn, and Cody Eells along with Alan & Jason Leigh for coach Kevin Root, who sees work ethic, chemistry and leadership as his team’s strengths.

Coach Mark Portwood will lead a Milford Bearcats squad coming off a 12-15 season. Brian Russell returns as coach at Armstrong-Potomac and Brad Russell returns to lead the Georgetown-Ridge Farm Buffaloes.