With a majority of the Lady Bearcat basketball varsity team graduating last year, the pressure will be on the juniors and sophomores to take over some of the leading roles, and only a small percentage of seniors are turning out. This inexperience may hurt the team, but if they communicate, the team will improve steadily. "All of those kids are great kids, hard workers and it should make for a really good, fun season, with many positive experiences," said Lady Bearcat basketball coach Kerry Abbott.

The team's goal this year is making the playoffs and maybe even going to state. "We're all focusing on going to state," said returning senior player Alison Smith.

On the other hand, the turnout for girls' basketball was low this season. With only two returning varsity senior players, the team should concentrate on one game at a time. "We want to improve, get better every game, and our main goal is for us to be in the playoffs at the end of the season," said Abbott.

In order to meet their goals, all of the players on the team have to communicate and work together. Junior Danielle Klovdahl said, "If the whole team comes together we'll do pretty good."

Each position has a job to do. The guards determine the outcome of almost every play. Their role is to "not have very many turn overs and always be creating plays. [They need] to be able to see the whole floor and be able to read what the defense is doing, to execute plays," according to senior Robbi Schwarz.

The wings should do "the same things as the guard but more of a scoring thing, outside shots, driving to the basket and getting up the floor on the fast break," said Schwarz.

Klovdahl said, "During the season, the point guards and the forwards will look inside to the posts to score or get fouled when the defense on the outer players is tight."

The strength of the team lies in its defense, quickness, and fast breaking. Abbott said, "I'm hoping to be a pressing and fast break team, we're kind of small and quick."

Besides the overall quality of the team, the individual players will add to the team's strengths. Seniors Robbie Schwarz and Alison Smith have good leadership and experience. Juniors Danielle Klovdahl, Salena Rinta, Natalie Roe, and Tara Mount also have experience from last year's varsity team.

Even with somewhat developed passing and driving skills, the team still lacks a pure shooter. The question is not whether the ball will get to the basket, but if it will go in. Newcomers junior Alayna Blankenship, and sophomores Sheryl Pfaff, and Jessica Young may provide scoring help. Mount may also pose a dangerous outside scoring threat.

Sophomore Aleta Carlo, a returning varsity player, will be a key element for the team. Abbott said, "As a tenth grader, she [Carlo] is a talented player."

Teamwork, fast breaking, and defense are all good, but to win games, they must score points. Shots that bounce off the rim will not help this team. Abbott said, "We're hoping to become strong offensively; we have the weapons...we have a lot of kids that can score and we're hoping to score a lot this year."