With Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror, it's time to focus on area teams hoping to hang around deep into the playoffs in March.

To measure your team's chances for happiness on the hardwood this winter, check the previews below.

Boys' Latin

2008-2009 record: 10-15

Returning starters: senior point guard Sean Page (5-foot-8) and senior forward Ian Fletcher (6-4).

Breakdown: Jeff Parsons is banking on BL being more consistent than it was last season because of experience and the addition of some talented newcomers.

"Most of the guys in our rotation have played varsity basketball," Parsons said. "I think we are better prepared to deal with the rigors of our league. We would like to get back to the playoffs. It's been a few years since we have been there."

Page will be running the Lakers' offense after moving to the point once last year's floor leader, Christian Walsh, graduated.

"(Page) is a capable ball handler and our team leader," Parsons said. "So he is a natural fit for that position."

Parsons will look for greater contributions from both Page and Fletcher to help replace the production of Walsh (averaged 14 points) and departed 6-5 center Scott Parker (11 points).

Marcus Jones (6-5), a transfer from Mount St. Joseph and standout on the Lakers' football team, is another reason why optimism is high.

"He is just a big body and moves so well for as big as he is," Parsons said. "He is physical and he will help us out a lot."

Junior guards Michael Turner (6-0) and Wells Stanwick (6-1) will support Page, Fletcher and Jones in the starting lineup.

Senior forward Patrick Foster (6-4), junior guard Adam Davey (6-0) and sophomore forward/guard Matt Rees (6-2) will push the starters for minutes.

"We are going to be a lot more athletic than we were last year," Parsons said.

Calvert Hall

2008-2009 record: 30-7

Returning starters: seniors John Graham (6-8), Kyle Wise (5-9), Donya Jackson (6-4) and Damion Lee (6-6).

Breakdown: This is the year the Cardinals have been pointing toward, given the height, depth and skill of the returnees. Throw in junior Matt Bosse (6-6), the star of the school's championship volleyball team, and Calvert Hall is poised for another banner season.

"We feel like we have a good chance to get back there (to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference final)," coach John Bauersfeld said. "But the league is so strong, you can't go to sleep on anyone."

The Cardinals found that out last season when they lost to archrival Loyola Blakefield in the Baltimore Catholic League semifinals after beating the Dons twice in the regular season.

"We had a really tough learning experience last year," Bauersfeld said. "And that should help us this year."

Dulaney

2008-2009 record: 17-6

Returning starters: None

Breakdown: Despite graduating most of its scoring punch, the Lions look for another playoff berth this season. With only nine teams in the Class 4A North Region, coach Matt Lochte feels that 13 or 14 wins might be enough for the Lions.

Games against Calvert Hall, Loyola Blakefield, Archbishop Curley and Boys' Latin will toughen the Lions, preparing them for regular-season rivals Woodlawn and Parkville.

"We wanted to keep the great local rivalries," said Lochte, noting that full gyms are usually the case when Dulaney plays the Dons and Cards.

Senior Tyler Hasselbein (5-11) gets the call at point guard while seniors Josh Jameson (6-2) and Kyle Quarenta (5-11) and sophomore Mike Porter (6-2) round out a four-man backcourt.

Senior Kevin Bonner (6-4) will be stationed in the low post with junior Chad Walker (6-3) and freshman Gavin Scanlon (6-2) coming off the bench.

Reserve guards include senior Jon Wingfield (6-1) and junior Justin Armstrong (6-2).

"I couldn't be more pleased with how we've played (in preseason practice)," Lochte said. "We've been shooting well and running our sets well, too."

Friends

2008-2009 record: 6-18

Returning starters: senior forward Ben Green (6-2), senior guard Leland Nislow (5-9), junior guard Andrew Shaver (6-1) and junior forward Jon Schmidt (6-6).

Breakdown: Quakers' coach Brian Anglim has high expectations because of a wealth of experience that returns to his starting lineup.

"This year, we are looking to take a playoff spot," Anglim said. "We have juniors and seniors. They are starting to figure out how to win. Last season was a year of growth. We only had one win in the conference."

Schmidt highlights Friends' lineup. He's a reliable scorer and rebounder, averaging 13 points and nine rebounds per game last year.

Anglim needs a standout season from Schmidt after losing last year's leading scorer, guard Ryan DeSmit, to graduation.

"He is going to one of the top players in the league," Anglim said about Schmidt. "He is getting some Division-I offers."

Shaver could shine as the floor leader after playing off-guard last season.

"He is taking on more ballhandling responsibilities and he has gotten much better at handling the basketball," Anglim said. "It's a big deal because we are playing much faster."

Anglim hopes his other starters -- junior guard Chris McClenney (6-1), Green and Nislow -- provide steady play.

Senior guard Alex Klein (5-9), junior guard Etosha Lankatilleke (6-0) and sophomore forward Corey Schmidt (6-0) should get playing time off the bench.

Junior center Jason Schon (6-3), senior forward Max Reamer (6-0) and junior guards Will Fetchko (6-0) and Jay Orrson (5-9) complete the squad.

"We are a lot further ahead than we were last year," Anglim said. "Last year, we had to teach everything from the basic of levels to man-to-man defenses and general offensive ideas."

Gilman

2008-2009 record: 10-16

Returning starters: sophomore guard Cyrus Jones (5-10), sophomore forward Ryan Ripken (6-5) and senior forward Bryan Willis (6-5, forward).

Breakdown: Owen Daly has replaced Tim Holley with hopes of jump-starting the program.

Daly, a McDonogh graduate, served as a Greyhounds' assistant last year.

"I think we are definitely on the upswing and I think we can be really competitive in the B Conference," Daly said.

Any discussion of Gilman must start with Jones, who is capable of taking over a game. He plays tenacious defense, can produce a ton of points and hit the open man.

Two of Jones' best performances last season came against A Conference foes in McDonogh (20 points) and St. Frances (18).

"He is an explosive athlete," Daly said. "He can score inside and outside. I think he can potentially play Division I basketball."

Junior Darius Jennings (6-1), a former sixth man and the quarterback of the Greyhounds' football team, joins Jones in the backcourt.

Another returning talent is Ripken, last year's second leading scorer and rebounder. However, he's out for an undetermined amount of time with a foot injury.

Senior Duncan Hutchins has replaced Ripken in the starting lineup at small forward.

Willis gives the team a solid rebounder in the post after leading the team in that category last year.

"In our starting lineup, we don't necessarily have four Division-I basketball players, but we have four Division-I athletes," Daly said.

Former junior varsity standouts -- juniors Chad Copeland (6-4, forward), Linn Worthington (6-1, guard) and Justin George (6-1, forward) and sophomores Stephen Koteen (5-10, guard), and Jake Matthai (6-6, center) -- are expected to contribute.

"They are a group of guys up from a really good JV team," Daly said. "They lost in the championship."

Loch Raven

2008-2009 record: 4-19

Returning starters: senior guard Maxwell Wilson (5-11) and senior forward Nick Wiley (6-1).

Breakdown: The offseason was an exciting time for coach Dave Kreller, who welcomed 6-foot point guard Julian Allen (Parkville) and 6-foot shooting guard Tevin Dugger (Randallstown).

The two transfers immediately raise the expectations for the Raiders.

Both earned starting roles in the preseason.

Kreller said Allen "has all the tools" while Dugger plays aggressive defense.

"They bring an extra level of intensity," Kreller said. "They have that attitude that they want to do well. Their main sport is basketball. Last year, it seemed like we had a lot of guys who played basketball as their third sport."

Wilson, Wiley and junior center Nkem Obineme (6-4) will also start.

"I think we will have a balanced attack," Kreller said. "I could see all five guys scoring 10 points a game."

Kreller is counting on senior center Jacob Branch (6-4), senior guard John Mark (6-0) and junior guard Devon Jones (5-10) for solid play off the bench.

Junior guard Yemofio Quaye (6-0), junior forward Corey Manley (6-3), junior guard Carlton Arrington (6-0) and junior forward Michael Tilmon (6-0) round out the squad.

Loyola Blakefield

2008-2009 record: 19-13

Returning starters: senior point guard Mike Fitzpatrick (5-8).

Breakdown: The Dons hope to be the kind of team Loyola fans have become accustomed to under coach Josh Davalli -- solid, scrappy and smart.

And after losing the majority of their key players to graduation, the Dons will have to use all of those attributes to keep pace in the Baltimore Catholic League/Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference this winter.

Senior swingman Matt Mathias (6-0), who missed half of last season with a foot injury, will be counted on for scoring on a team that also features seniors Brenan Hartman (6-3, forward), Jahvon James (6-0, guard) and Emmett Cahill (5-11, forward) and sophomore Jordan Floyd (5-11, guard).

With the demise of interscholastic athletics at St. John's College Prep and Towson Catholic's closing, there will be less games in the Catholic League this season.

And with more emphasis on each game, the Dons will need to be ready to go when league play begins.

A visit to Dulaney Dec. 23 and a berth in the Jesuit Classic at Georgetown University Dec. 28-30 should keep Loyola sharp for the regular season.

Lutheran

2008-2009 record: 1-13

Returning starters: junior point guard Joshua Schildwachter (5-9) and senior guard/forward Mark Dracey (6-0).

Breakdown: The Saints finished last year with only eight players and a slew of difficult losses.

New coach Paul Schildwachter, however, should have less worries with a 12-player roster and more talent this season.

Schildwachter takes over a young team after serving the past two years as an assistant.

"We have some athletes," said the coach, who previously worked as an assistant at the College of Notre Dame for seven years. "It's a matter of teaching them some skills. It's a group that really wants to learn."

Joshua Schildwachter appears ready to have a breakout junior season and Dracey could be on the receiving end of many of his passes.

There are other starting roles to sort out as well.

"We are just trying to come up with the best combination of players," he said.

Junior guard Tim Hanley (5-8) and sophomores Chris Conway (5-11, swingman) David Post (6-0, forward) and Jordan Smith (6-0, guard) are in the mix for starting positions.

St. Paul's

2008-2009 record: 20-5

Returning starters: senior guards Winfield Willis (6-0) and Virgil Davis (5-10) and junior guards Miles Code (6-1) and Nigel Sydnor (6-1).

Breakdown: The aforementioned group will be looking for a forward or two to balance the lineup.

The most likely candidates are 6-foot-4 seniors Andrew Barton and Walter Noel, a Towson Catholic transfer.

Juniors George Fries (6-5) and Josh Mantanin (6-2) and sophomore Nick Cabral (6-4) will also get an opportunity on the baseline.

Sophomores Lamont Wade (6-0) and Tanner Brooks (5-10) and freshman Antonio Williams (6-0) will compete for backup backcourt slots.

After beating Catholic League rivals McDonogh and St. Maria Goretti last season, the Crusaders will try Calvert Hall, Mt. St. Joseph and John Carroll this winter.

"We like to put our guys in position to play the best," coach Seth Goldberg said.

They also like to run.

"Our core group of players likes to get up and down the floor," Goldberg said. "The kids have more fun that way."

Towson

2008-2009 record: 6-16

Returning starters: senior guard Lucas Mosca (6-2) and senior guard/forwards Matt Ross, (6-1) and Travis Beach (6-1).

Breakdown: Beating Hereford in the opening round of the playoffs last season may give the Generals the type of experience required to produce a winning team.

Having four savvy seniors back, including senior center Colin Russell (6-3), 5-foot-9 senior guards Julius Lovelist and Cameron Worsley and senior forward/center Zach Hogan (6-2), helps the cause.

Coach Tom Wilson said that he's hoping for "an improvement from last year due to senior leadership and many returning players who either started or played major roles. Expectations are that senior laden team will turn several close defeats from last year into victory this year."

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