It’s the beginning of December, which means the winter sports season is already in full swing, including the highly anticipated girls basketball season.

“I feel like we are prepared, and we are going to be stronger,” junior point guard Nicole Bloomgarden said. Last season, Bloomgarden led the team with 244 points for the season and an average of 13.6 points per game.

There are 12 returning players from last year’s team, and although three seniors graduated last year, the girls project a successful season with a strong team.

“Our defense is looking super good, and our offense is coming together pretty quickly,” senior Sarah Lubnow said. “[Because the team is smaller] we get more reps at practice, so it’s more tiring, but we’re getting after it a lot more.”

Head coach Michael Gilroy had similarly optimistic thoughts as the girls about the season.

“I feel good,” Gilroy said. “It’s always a challenge as a coach to try to get that team chemistry, and it’s always a work in progress throughout the whole season, but as of right now I like where we stand. Everyone’s a year older, so we should have a lot more leadership.”

This is Coach Gilroy’s second season coaching girls basketball, and the girls on the basketball team are comfortable with his coaching styles and have high hopes for this season.

“Gilroy has more experience with coaching girls, so he’ll be able to help us better this year,” junior Jenna Short said.

“It always starts off rough every year, but then we get a rhythm and remember how we play,” Bloomgarden said.

Each athlete may have individual hopes, but they all have a common goal: to be the 2A State Champions.