There’s going to be a different offensive look to the Grand Valley boys basketball team for the 2003-04 season.

“This is as athletic a group that I’ve had,” said head coach Scott Kiburis.

And the fifth-year coach plans to use the team’s athletic ability to wear down its opponents.

“We’re going to play a little more up-tempo game this year,” the coach said.

The Cardinals appear to have the speed to make the new offense work, but as a team, Grand Valley is small.

The tallest player on the roster is 6-foot, 4-inch senior Chris Johnson, one of three returning starters.

Johnson will resume his role at center. Senior Colin Lauman, a 6-2 letterman, will also be up front.

Chris Brundle, a 5-7, senior, has taken over the duties at shooting guard. He will be partnered with 6-foot freshman Sam McKinley at point guard.

Other key players in the team’s rotation include 5-9 senior Jeremy Quick at guard along with transfers Justin Tindall, a 5-11 swingman from Illinois and Taylor Prince, who played junior varsity basketball at Glenwood Springs High last year.

Kiburis said a key factor to Grand Valley’s success in the Class 2A Western Slope League is how quickly the team comes together.

“We have a lot of new faces and we have to gel as a team,” the coach said. “It’s an exciting team, but we have to improve as a group and learn more basketball and team skills to be successful.”