Heading into the season, Carlisle High School boys basketball coach Jeff Waugh wasn’t sure what to expect.

Waugh welcomed an almost completely new roster and figured there would be the obligatory growing pains. Instead, the Indians started the season with seven straight wins — a mark they can match tonight at Northridge — in running to a 16-3 overall mark, 8-2 in the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division.

“I knew we had some good young players moving up, but when you make that move from playing at 6 (p.m., in the junior varsity game) to playing at 7:30, there are going to be some growing pains,” Waugh said.

At least Waugh doesn’t have to worry about starting over next year. The Indians start three juniors and two sophomores. The first player off the bench is a freshman.

“When you have 14- and 15-year-olds going against 17- and 18-year-olds, you have to question yourself sometimes,” Waugh said. “But the kids moving up … we had some gym rats who were looking forward to the season.”

One of the returning starters, junior Andrew Goodpaster, is the leading scorer for the Indians, averaging 20.2 points per game. Fellow junior Gideon Cunningham is averaging 11.8 points, while sophomores Braden Lieungh (12.4) and Jarius Milton (11.3) also average double figures in scoring.

“I think the kids who moved up realized it is the same thing they have done since seventh grade and they can still do what they have been doing,” Waugh said. “We haven’t had any lulls, and that is a tribute to the kids. If one of them falters, we have others to step in and help out.”

One the keys for the Indians was getting off to the fast start. But their calling card has been their ability to hit the boards and play defense.

“When you guard and rebound, you have a chance,” Waugh said. “We have won some we shouldn’t have won. Winning is a habit and when you win, you believe you will keep winning and you continue to win.”