Most of the area boys' basketball teams graduated their top players from last season, so this year brings the extra excitement of the unknown.

In a Tri-Nine Conference trend, the boys' basketball champion has had only one conference loss in every season since 2006-07. But another trend has been developing over the last three years: no teams have advanced to the 4A East regionals.

In fact, all local public and private schools were eliminated in their respective second-round state tournament games.

Team-by-team previews follow. Records shown indicate last year's win-loss.

Tri-Nine Conference

Middle Creek (22-5): The Mustangs bring back just two starters from last year, but their strength might be in how many total contributors return. The defending conference champs are paced by seniors Marvin Wilson, Jon Moore, Brandon Hooks, Nate Fleming and Keith Fitzgerald.

Junior Quinton Ray (9.3 points per game) returns as the team's leading scorer.

Cary (15-10): Graduation hit Cary hard, and the Imps will be replacing seven of their top eight scorers from a year ago. Stephen Bajorek, a 6-foot-6 senior, was the team's leading rebounder last year and is the only returning starter.

Apex (14-13): Coach Dave Neal's team made the playoffs despite breaking in several new starters who hadn't seen much court time. That'll come in handy, because the top five scorers from last year have moved on.

The Cougars are young but talented, and Austin Debevec is the only returning starter.

Panther Creek (13-11): Coach Mark Adams' first year with the Catamounts had its ups (an 11-2 start) and its downs (2-9 finish). Only five players return, led by junior David Robertson (11 ppg).

Green Hope (12-12): The Falcons are poised to improve on last year's fifth-place finish as four starters return. Green Hope will be led by the conference's top scorer Chris Flemmings (16.2 ppg). Juniors John Mosser (7.3 ppg) and Grant Rassmussen (8.2 ppg) will bolster second-year coach John Green's squad.

Lee County (12-14): Last year's Yellow Jackets won the conference tournament just to make the playoffs, but only senior Russell Tatum returns to the starting lineup.

Holly Springs (11-15): Still searching for their first postseason trip, the Golden Hawks return three starters - Anthanee Doyle, Wes Treiber and Brock Hall - and a host of contributors from last year's group. Doyle is the team's leading returning scorer (9.3 ppg) while Treiber (7.3 ppg) led the Hawks in rebounds (7.7) last year.

Fuquay-Varina (8-15): The Bengals lose their top five scorers and rebounders but return a few reserves from last year's squad. There doesn't appear to be a go-to scorer, so Fuquay will have to win games with balanced efforts.

Athens Drive (3-21): Through the course of last year, the Jags lost three starters. The experience gained by last year's replacements could prove beneficial to this year's group, led by Jon Hodge, Dylan Haupt and Mike Estes.

Private schools

Cary Christian (21-4): The Knights lose the school's all-time leading scorer in Lindsey Johnson, but Chris Thomas (19.4 points, 9.3 rebounds per game) is back. However, he's one of just three returners from last year's team, which set school records for wins and won its conference championship.

Cary Academy (16-12): For the first time since Kenny Inge took over the Chargers, he won't have Cameron Walton and Jimmy Joyner - the two leading scorers in school history. Leading returning scorer - Jared Sarnoff - will miss the season with injury. Junior forward Cannon Duke (4.7 ppg) and sophomore John Guerra return.

Grace Christian (16-8): Coach John Green will look to Keerthi Boru (20 points, 9.3 rebounds per game) to lead the Eagles.