PANTEGO — Gone are the days of Austin Roscoe teeing up Terra Ceia shooters like Messiah Barnes. The barn-like gymnasium is no longer the home to a post bruiser like Chase Furlough or a floor-spreading forward like Tyler Hendrix.

Last year’s senior-laden group produced the most memorable Knights basketball seasons in decades. They won a thrilling playoff game at home before falling on the road in the second round.

So much has changed in less than a year. Six seniors graduated from that team. Roger Klaassen stepped away from his role as head coach, and Stan Allen has taken over.

There are new faces all over, but this Terra Ceia team still looks so familiar in its success and its style of play. Johannes VanEssendelft has the experience to run the offense, and is a strong defender. Omarion Blount and Matt VanStaaldiunen can shoot well from 3-point range.

“We just have kids that love to play basketball. Some of them play year-round with AAU,” Allen said. “They play with each other.”

Some of the success can be credited to last year’s team. Many of the recent graduates have been on hand to help guide the new generation of Knights. It’s helped maintain continuity.

“Last year’s team has a lot to do with this year’s team,” Allen said. “Those guys coming back and helping us in practice. They’re educating these guys. They played with them a lot during the Christmas break. They come back and scrimmage. Last year’s team means a lot to this year’s team.”

There’s a different dynamic. Allen proved himself as the junior-varsity coach. However, any coach will express the helpfulness of additional voices in the room.

Of course, the recent graduates have a proven track record based on the success they had last year.

Those former Knights didn’t just win. They did so in a fun manner. Their run-and-gun style coupled with their 3-point shooting — which played like a NCISAA version of the Golden State Warriors — is something any young basketball player would like to emulate.

“It makes it more fun. I liked it because we got to play with them. The other players can see how they play ball,” VanEssendelft said. “They can see how a real team can work. It gives us an example to follow.”

VanEssendelft and center Alex VanStaalduinen are two of the only Knights that saw meaningful minutes last season. Their experience has been important to bringing the younger players along.

“We’re really trying to get together what coach Roger taught us. We’re trying to have the same intensity we brought last year,” VanEssendelft said. “I don’t see much difference from the team last year. Yeah, we’re a young team and we can still use work on our defense mostly.”

He’s right. This Terra Ceia team can run in transition. It can shoot lights out. It doesn’t have the same presence in the paint, but it remains the team to beat in the Tar Heel Independent Conference.

And that is an achievement in and of itself.