The South Central Conference Boys Basketball race is set to be close from top to bottom this season. Knoxville Coach Jeff Larson tells KNIA/KRLS Sports, as the defending champions, he does not mind being the hunted. That said, Iowa Preps has picked the Panthers fifth in the S-C-C this season. Something Larson would like to avoid. He adds the very team that nearly knocked off the Panthers on the final night of the conference last year is one of the teams for the Panthers to watch out for. He says if Knoxville finishes fifth in the conference, he may not coach next year, because he would not be doing his job. The Panthers dive right into conference play next Tuesday at Albia.