Girls basketball season gets underway this weekend for most of the Tri-Eastern Conference teams.
Union City and Hagerstown were co-champions a year ago.
“There will be many contenders in the TEC title race this year,” Union City Head Coach Sarah Black said.
“We look for teams to be prepared and bring their best against us as defending co-champs for the last few years,” Black added.
The Indians and Lincoln both won sectional titles, while Winchester and Tri reached each were runner-ups.
TEC Player of the Year Courtney Wise, All-TEC performer Baylee Hartman along with Kora Kerns and Kelsey Zimmers return for the Indians. Junior All-TEC Honorable Mention choice Justiss Cantu is also back.
“We have four seniors to lead our troops and are hoping that experience will pay off for us down the road and in close contests,” Black said. “We have a lot of hopes for the season and know it all begins with practice and we have been preparing each day to be the best we can each night and hopefully be playing our absolute best basketball in February.”
Hagerstown welcomes back All-TEC player Brytni Dale and honorable mention selection Hannah Rogers.
“I believe that Lincoln, Union City and Winchester are the front runners for the TEC, but I know that all the other teams and coaches will be out to get them,” Hagerstown Head Coach Chris Oliger said. “We are going to be a hard working scrappy bunch that is going to defend and rebound.”
Lincoln lost just one senior from year ago and returns All-TEC choice Kerrigan Neff and Kylei Klein, who was honorable mention.
Winchester returns a large group led by seniors Liz Pegg, Sierra Love and Autumn Dixon.
All-TEC performer junior Payton Moore is back for Tri along with senior Addy Edwards.
Union County has senior Sierra Dowler and sophomore Tara Williams leading it’s squad of returning players.
Centerville is led by juniors Savana Kates, Cassidy Weiss and Alex McFarland.
Northeastern has All-TEC junior Madi Clay back to go with classmate Kasey Andrews, who was honorable mention.
The Openers
Union County and Northeastern open the season on Friday. The Patriots are at home against Franklin County, while the Knights travel to Knightstown.
Saturday’s action has Union City at Southern Wells, Winchester at Bluffton and Centerville entertaining Alexandria.
Hagerstown, Lincoln and Tri each begin play with road trips on Friday, Nov. 11. The Tigers are at Delta, the Golden Eagles visit Anderson Prep and the Titans go to Blue River.