Salinas boys basketball

Salinas (22-7, 8-4)
 When you lose five starters -- three of which were all-leaguers, and your top two shooters from the perimeter last year, you should expect growing pains.
 Not necessary.
 The cupboard is far from bare at Salinas, who reached the Central Coast Section Division I finals last year and the State Northern California Division I tournament.
 Tim Harper could have started full time for a lot of teams last year, providing quality minutes for the Cowboys. The junior forward will find himself in a bigger role this year.
 So will 6-foot-5 Gavin Rippere, arguably the most athletic player on the squad. The junior missed most of the second half of last year with a knee injury.
 Opponents will have to account for Rippere, who was described by one opposing coach as an above the rim type of player.
 Two players expected to come in and make an immediate impact include point guard Daniel Boost and Jacob Franks, the MVP of the junior varsity last season.
 Last year Salinas used a blistering 11-1 start -- three tournament titles -- to open the season to propel itself into the postseason.
A beefed-up non-league schedule this year was designed to improve them for the Gabilan Division.
Four of the Cowboys seven overall losses came in the Gabilan. Two others in the postseason. The one non-league loss last winter was to a league champion.