After finishing the 2012-2013 campaign with a record of 18 wins and 5 losses, the Tyrone Golden Eagle boys basketball team is looking forward to another successful season.

The team lost only four regular season games last year, dropping decisions to Bellwood, Central Mountain, Bald Eagle, and Penn’s Valley. Their season ended in the quarterfinals of the playoffs to Northern Cambria.

“Our goals remain the same every year,” said Tyrone Head Coach George Gripp, “we want to win the Mountain League, win the District 6 title and go as far as we can in the state playoffs.”

Returning this season is current Mountain League MVP Brandon Gripp. Gripp is a senior who averaged over 20 points and 6 assists per game last year.

“I’m just looking for another big season and have a great run in the playoffs,” said Brandon Gripp, who is only about 80 points away from the 1,000 career point mark.

Gripp looks to lead a Tyrone team that returns many key players from last year’s playoff team.

Also returning is senior Jordan Miller, who was named to the All-Mountain League second team. Miller averaged 14 points per game, which was second on the team. Other returning seniors include Erik Wagner, who led the team last year in rebounds with 6 boards per game, and fellow senior Dalton McKeehen.

“We know what we have to do this season, we just have to work together and get it done,” Miller said about the upcoming season.

The team also has quite a few juniors returning. Tristan Lingafelt, Nathaniel Soellner, Preston Mitchell, Shane Geis, Blake Brooks and Mark Lewis all return after having achieved an undefeated Junior Varsity seaon last year.

Anthony Politza, who played quite a few minutes as a freshman, also looks to have a big impact as a sophomore.

Zack Soellner is another sophomore who should see significant time at the varsity level.

“I hope that everyone stays healthy and we improve our play every day,” said Gripp, “I hope we are playing our best basketball come playoff time.”

The team will begin its season tonight against arch-rival Bellwood-Antis  at Bellwood High School at 7:30 pm.

Tyrone will then host its annual Christmas tournament over the holidays.  Teams in the tournament this year include Penn Cambria, Bellwood, and Claysburg.