If the Pirates learned anything last season in winning 17 games, it's that they could compete without leaning on the teams best player.
A injury to guard Parker Olin sidelined him for most of the league season. While he came back and made a splash in the final five games, Stevenson stayed in the title chase without him.
While Olin has moved on to Chico State, five players are back from last year's Central Coast Section Division V semifinal team, including starter Winston Elstob.
Elstob stepped in during Olin's absence and emerged as one of the top players in the MTAL, nailing 73 shots from beyond the 3-point arc last season.
It will not hurt having Patrick Donohue back for his third season at Stevenson, as the senior knocked down 52 3-point goals last winter.
"Both are scoring threats from beyond the arc,'' Stevenson coach Justin Clymo said.
The pair combined to average 18.1 points a game last season for the Pirates, who were the only team in the Mission Trail Athletic League to beat league champion Pacific Grove.
Stevenson will look to build off last year's finish, in which it went 6-1 down the stretch to reach the semifinals for the second straight year.
Connor Jacobs and Honorebel Walker are expected to have bigger roles this winter for the Pirates, after coming off the bench last year.
The 6-foot-4 Jacobs will give Stevenson and inside presence while the 6-2 Walker was brought up last year as a sophomore to help handle the point guard duties.
"Both will carry a much larger load this year,'' Clymo said.
So will Matt Gibbs, who can crash the boards as well as get out and knock down jump shots from the perimeter for the Pirates.
"Matt can stretch the defense with his shooting,'' Clymo said.
Stevenson put together a challenging non-league schedule with Palma, Rio Americano of Sacramento, Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo and Bentley of Lafayette.
While they went just 1-3 in those games, the Pirates were competitive against Palma and Rio Americano, and beat Bentley.
"With an ambitious non-league schedule, we feel we will be battle tested and ready for league play,'' Clymo said.
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