NB Girls: 'Basketball IQ' Looking Good

Coach's name: Jon Ewart

Number of years as head coach: 6th Year

League: ICC East

Last year's record: 17-9

Returning starters/letterwinners: Mariah Hall, Lacy McIlnay, Leah Swanseen

Returning letterwinners: Lauren Heck, Alyssa Yeatts

Newcomers: Lydia Barton, Amberly Detterline, Keyona Hall, Mylee Mitchell, Mayleigh Ritchey

Strengths: We have a solid group of returning talent. We have a lot of girls that will be competing for varsity minutes throughout the season creating stronger players and a better team. Basketball IQ has developed in our core group.

Concerns: Staying healthy throughout the season. Beginning the season with some injuries. Losing JV games would create less experience for younger players coming up through the system.

Overall outlook: Players have set some higher goals for our team this year. Practices should be competitive, with players working for minutes. We hope to continue to build the program in the right direction. We want to improve individually and as a team as the season progresses and be in a position to battle in districts.

Team goals: Players have created individual and team goals for this upcoming season. We want to have a strong showing in districts. Meeting or beating last years win total of 17 is a goal of ours. Finishing the regular season as the top team in ICC East Division. Compete for a district championship at UPJ is the goal for us each year. And after being in the state tournament the past two seasons, players want to win at least one state playoff game.

Team captains: Mariah Hall & Leah Swanseen

Assistant coaches: Barry Crawford / Junior High: Scott Bollman & Allie Snider