Changes to the enrollment classification numbers arguably made Class D South boys’ basketball more manageable for Rangeley.

Now the Lakers’ own numbers game is the potential problem.

Three projected senior starters have not been in uniform throughout the preseason. One was dismissed by Rangeley coach Jeff Larochelle for disciplinary reasons.

“I’m still hoping the other two come back after they hear I took care of it,” Larochelle said.

If not, Rangeley will try to get through the season with three juniors, a sophomore, two freshmen and two eight-graders.

Due to additional academic issues and holiday commitments, the Lakers took the minimum five players to a preseason scrimmage. They rallied from a double-digit deficit to tie it at the finish.

“I really wanted to play overtime, but I had a kid leaning on me in the huddle to hold himself up,” Larochelle said. “That’s when you get kids hurt. I had to shut it down. We showed a lot of heart.”

Ricky Thompson, Carl Trafton and Devon Clark are the elder statesmen on the team. Larochelle’s son, Kyle, a sophomore, enters his third varsity season.

Thompson is the tallest player at 6-foot-3. Only two others stand taller than 5-11.

“When you don’t have a lot of kids to begin with, it’s even harder when you lose them,” Larochelle said. “Two of the seniors started for varsity since they were freshmen, so there goes your experience.”

Rangeley emerged as the cardiac kids in the East-West Conference a year ago, earning many of its six wins in dramatic, comeback fashion.

The Lakers earned the No, 6 seed and lost a preliminary game at home against North Yarmouth Academy.

“We won six games and lost six others by nine points or less,” Larochelle said. “If all those players come back, you expect to start winning those close games, but now it’s almost like starting over.”

NYA, Buckfield and Richmond have been moved into Class C South but remain on Rangeley’s schedule.

“Those are rivalry games,” Larochelle said. “They’re fun to play.”

Rangeley also is excited about a regular-season game against Class D champion Forest Hills in the Capital City Classic at Augusta Civic Center over Christmas vacation.

Valley is considered the preseason favorite in Class D South. Forest Hills and Seacoast Christian may challenge.

The Lakers would like to play more than the regularly scheduled game at ACC, where they haven’t qualified for a quarterfinal game in many years.

“We’ll see how kids react in the tough games,” Larochelle said. “Our eighth-graders played with us all summer. I think they’ll be able to grab some rebounds and score some points. Sometimes I have to take a step back and manage my expectations and remind myself that they’re only eighth-graders. They don’t always anticipate things.”

koakes@sunjournal.com