DEXTER, N.Y. (WWNY) – The General Brown Lions followed up a 2022 season that saw them make it to the Class C state championship game with a 7-3 overall record in 2023 and 4-1 in Class C East, but lost to Adirondack in the Class C Section III championship game.

General Brown coach Doug Black says this year’s version of the Lions will be a work in progress not only in the preseason but during the regular season as well.

“We have some solid guys coming back this year, but there will be a lot of young guys playing,” he said. “We have three all-state players and a good senior class, so we’re going to have to feel our way through the beginning of the season.”

The Lions need to fill some key positions and have fewer players on the roster than usual this season. The team will rely on some younger players to fill those gaps and take on key roles a little sooner than expected, with the veterans playing both ways at multiple positions.

“I think like they said, we lost a lot of our star players and leaders,” veteran wingback/cornerback Tristan Jarvie said. “We’re going to be a young, inexperienced team. We have holes to fill. We have big holes and we’ll see how it goes.”

“After losing our star quarterback and star wide receiver, both all-state players, and a lot of seniors on defense, we need the younger guys to step in,” senior center/linebacker Brock McManaman said. “Experienced leaders need to take on the responsibility and show these younger guys how to play basketball.”

So what does Black think will be the key to his team making it to the Section III, Class C championship game for the fourth year in a row?

“The key will be senior leadership,” he said. “Our seniors need to step up. Some young players playing for us for the first time need leadership on the field, so it’s up to our returning players to set the tone.”

The Lions will open their 2024 season on Friday, September 6, when they host Malone in a non-league game with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

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