Christ Presbyterian Academy coach Drew Maddux (center) talks to his team during Wednesday afternoon’s practice. The Lions are 17-8 after losing six key players from last season, including transfers Braxton Key and Tyger Campbell.

There’s a stark contrast between the 2015-16 Christ Presbyterian Academy boys basketball team and those that recently preceded it.

Gone are Jalen Lindsey, Braxton (Blackwell) Key, Craig Bradshaw, Braxton Bonds and Tyger Campbell.

With them went a nightly highlight reel and the buzz of some of the top Division I programs in the country checking out potential recruits.

What hasn’t left the CPA program, however, is success.

“We established a culture of what we expect and what it takes to be a CPA player,” said Lions coach Drew Maddux. “No matter if the faces have changed, the mindset never changed. That’s been our focus each and every day.”

CPA won Class AA titles in 2012 and 2013 behind star players such as Bradshaw (now at Belmont), Lindsey (Providence), Bonds (former Tennessee walk-on now at Columbia State), Key (Alabama signee and two-time Mr. Basketball) and Campbell.

Despite losing the 6-foot-7 Lindsey (to Huntington Prep Academy in West Virginia) his senior year (2013-14), Key and Co. managed to help get the Lions into the state semifinals each of the last two seasons.

Optimism for the 2015-16 season was going to be high for the Lions, especially with the highly recruited Key and  Campbell, who was just entering his freshman season, returning.

Exit Campbell, who moved out of state, and Key, who transferred Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Couple that with four seniors who graduated from last year’s squad, and public expectation turned around quickly.

Not for Maddux, however.

“That’s not who I am,” Maddux said when asked if his spirits were broken after losing Key and Campbell during the offseason. “I believe in this school, the community and the young men in this program. No matter who is in the uniform, these guys are always going to work hard, and that leads to good things.”

What it has led to is another district championship and expectations of a postseason run. Despite a much smaller lineup, CPA is 17-8 overall and 9-0 in 12-AA. The Lions’ non-district schedule has been among the toughest in the Midstate.

“That schedule was made before we lost (Key and Campbell),” said Maddux, whose squad hasn’t lost a regular-season district game since 2010-11 (65 consecutive wins). “We lost six really good players, including four seniors who won (more than) 100 games. I think our young men have played extremely well.”

Five of the eight losses have come from tough out-of-state competition. The lone Midstate losses have been an 87-73 setback to Cane Ridge in the opener and a 74-68 defeat to Pope John Paul II a week later. Both of those games were played while three starters were still participating with the CPA football team. The Lions also lost to Ridgeway in the Penny Hardaway National Hoopfest in early January.

Bombs away

How have the Lions been able to maintain success with a revamped lineup? A steady and accurate dose of 3-point shooting tops the list.

“We have a technical offense, the way we like to share the ball,” Maddux said. “We utilize this group’s strength. They have elite shooting capability. We have two exceptional shooters in Clay Washburn and Evan Ragsdale. Our goal is to shoot 30 3-pointers a game.”

CPA is averaging 10.8 made 3-pointers (on an average of 29 attempts) per game, shooting 38 percent. The Lions have knocked down 271 on the year.

“They’re a different team than anyone on our schedule,” said Page coach Ralph Ringstaff, whose squad has played CPA the closest of any district teams (losing by six and nine points). “They really put the focus on the 3-point shot. Other teams we play like to penetrate and get the ball inside.

“They pose problems. You can’t play help-side defense, which we all preach. They move the ball around so well, and their players are already in shot-ready stance when the (pass) is in the air.”

Washburn leads the group of sharpshooters by hitting 49 percent of his long-range attempts. He has hit 93 3-pointers in 21 games (missing four games with a concussion) and is averaging 21.7 points and eight rebounds. Ragsdale, the lone returning starter, is averaging 15.6 points and has made 101 3-pointers (44 percent).

“We’re all one — there’s not one superstar,” said Washburn, a 6-5 junior wing who is the team’s top prospect with some mid-major interest. “We lost Braxton and Tyger, but I actually think that has made us closer.”

Familiar territory

Christ Presbyterian Academy junior Drew Scott shoots a 3-pointer during practice on Wednesday. The Lions have hit 259 3-pointers this season.

While having to reinvent the team’s offensive strategy, the outside attack falls right in the coach’s wheelhouse. Maddux was a premier shooter as a standout at Goodpasture and Vanderbilt.

“That certainly helps,” Maddux said. “I was a guy who never met a shot he didn’t like. They have the utmost confidence to take open shots. They don’t have to look over their shoulder. I have confidence in them, and they have freedom to shoot whenever they’re open.”

“We shoot about 300 (3-pointers) a day in practice,” Washburn said. “You wouldn’t think we would get a lot of open shots, but (Maddux) has about 40 plays we work on every day in practice that help us get a lot of shots. There are a lot of cuts and handoffs that create space.”

The Lions have attempted as many as 53 3-pointers during a game this season.

“We all feel we can go to back and win state,” Washburn said. “Since the first practice, (Maddux) told us we will be playing in Murphy Center.”

“With Braxton and those guys, they were athletic and posed problems for you defensively,” Ringstaff added. “With Washburn and Ragsdale, they can light it up in a second. If I wasn’t an opposing coach, they would be fun to watch.”

CPA BOYS BASKETBALL

Record: 17-8 (8-0 12-AA)

3-pointers made: 271

Top scorers: Clay Washburn (21.7 ppg., 93 3-pointers), Evan Ragsdale (15.6 ppg., 101 3-pointers)