By JESSE TEMPLE
jtemple@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE — Mike King has a bit of a math problem on his hands.

King, Cowan’s fifth-year boys basketball coach, sees a Blackhawks team that averaged 61.4 points per game last season on the way to its first winning season in 13 years and the second round of sectional play.

He also sees that 35 of those points are gone this season to graduation.

What’s a coach to do? Retool and find a new way to solve the equation.

“I think we can do the same thing in terms of points, but I think it’s going to be a different style,” King said. “The goal is the same. The road is different.”

Gone are Stephen Jones, Alex Gannom and Matt Gaff. In steps point guard Grant Newlin, center Tanner Rutherford and guard CJ Longfellow.

Newlin and Rutherford combined to average just over 20 points per game last season but will likely need to up their point production to make up for the Blackhawks’ losses. Longfellow, a senior, adds a solid outside stroke in his first year at Cowan after transferring from Central.

King said while last year’s team relied on finesse moves and jumpers for points, this year’s squad would have to work harder, aggressively slashing to the hoop and turning defensive pressure into offensive success.

Players see it the same way.

“We’re a little quicker this year because we have a lot of guards, so we can press more,” Newlin said. “We think that we’re more conditioned than opponents, so we’re going to push the ball and get them tired, so late in the fourth quarter, we’ll be fine.”

Newlin’s decision-making and hard-nosed mentality at the point position will be vital to Cowan’s success this season, King noted.

“If Grant got into a fight with a buzzsaw, I’d bet on Grant,” King said. “I would bet on Grant and give the buzzsaw a three-round head start. That kid is tougher than nails, and all he does is work hard. … He’s every coach’s dream and every opposing point guard’s nightmare.”

King also is expecting an increased role from guards Garrett Cooper and Austin Carrier, both of whom primarily played junior varsity last season but did see some varsity action.

“They’ll step in, and I think they’ll do quite well,” King said.

At the forward spot, Skyler Toomey should see the bulk of action, with Kyle Horine providing crucial minutes as well.

That gives Cowan seven players who will see the majority of court time. Exactly how those players make up for last year’s lost points remains to be seen. But this much is certain. No single player will carry Cowan through the regular season, which is just fine with Longfellow.

“We’re not worried about our stats,” Longfellow said. “We just want everybody else to succeed. We want to succeed as a team, so we’re very unselfish.”

Cowan opens its season on Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at home against Liberty Christian.

Contact prep sports reporter Jesse Temple at 213-5807.