Cole Etten takes over the Hollis Brookline program with a solid group, including second-team all-stater Matt Simco. The Cavaliers should figure prominently in the race.

Simco put up prolific, — make that earth-shattering — numbers on the football field this fall. He’s looking to make the same impact on the hardwood this winter.

Division II boys basketball welcomes back Kearsarge from Division III, and the Cougars immediately assume the spotlight as the team to beat. here is a feeling of balance through the top 14 or 15 teams in the division like rarely has happened before.

HEAD COACH: Cole Etten

LAST YEAR’S RESULTS: 13-5, lost in DII semifinals

RETURNING VARSITY

STARTERS: Matthew Simco, Sr., forward; Matthew Dowling, Sr., forward; Scott VanCoughnett, Sr., guard

PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Benjamin Lindsey, Jr., guard; Tyler MacDormand, Sr., guard; Kyle Bentall, Sr., guard; Dhruv Miglani, Jr., guard; Michael Moscatelli, Jr., forward; Kyle Hsu, Jr., guard; Jonathan Brackett, Sr., guard; Evan Simonds, Sr., guard; Grant Snyder, Soph., guard

OACH’S COMMENT ON TEAM: “We need to stay focused and be ready to compete every day in practice.”