By LARRY HILLIARDLedger Sports Editorlarry@gaffneyledger.com

What’s next for the three-time defending state champion Gaffney boys’ basketball team?

After splitting two games at the Byrnes Shootout on Tuesday, the Indians will spend the rest of the summer relaxing.

“This ends our summer,” Gaffney coach Mark Huff said. “We had a good summer. I think everybody improved a little. We got a lot of reps and a lot of games.”

This summer might have been the most important during the Indians’ string of state championships since the Indians must find replacements for Nick Melton, Phillip Buckson and Donald Sims.

The Indians will return Malcolm Long, Julius Wilkerson, Rodney Love, Kobe Hollis, Ques Tate, Cameron Tate and Daniel Mitchell.

Newcomers Richard Good, Robert Butler, Johnny Woods and Ken Littlejohn are expected to compete for five open roster spots.

“I think we have a chance to be pretty good next year,” Huff said. “We won’t be as big though.”

Poor defense, not a lack of height was the reason for the Indians 53-47 loss to Spartanburg at the Byrnes Shootout.

In the second game, Gaffney jumped to a big lead against the Rebels, then held on for a narrow 44-42 victory.

“It was our second game and their first and we got a little tired,” Huff said. “We had a few too many turnovers but the kids played hard.”

But Huff reiterated a constant theme: He doesn’t judge his summer workouts on the scoreboard.

“I’ve never put too much stock into wins and losses during the summer,” he said.