Last year, the Wolverine ladies made it to states, but only one team will get out of regionals this year. Following a fairly successful season, new coach Fred Woods has a lot to live up to.

The Friday Harbor girls’ basketball team competes at the 2B level, making every game important. Other teams in the league including Mount Vernon Christian, La Conner and Shoreline Christian may have lost some big players to graduation, but the Wolverines have plenty of competition against teams including Orcas Island and Darrington.

The strength shown in last year’s team returns with all five starters intact and looking really good. Seniors Lili Wood, Allie Galt, Taylor Turnbull, and Madi Kincaid “are all great leaders and basketball players,” Woods said.

Senior Taylor Turnbull takes the point position and leads the plays, using her extensive experience from the last two years on varsity. Allie Galt at 6 feet and Lili Wood at 5 feet 8 inches are really athletic and have skills in the paint. Even the wing positions have height in Hayden Mayer at 5 feet and 11 inches and Madi Kincaid.

The teams to beat this year include La Conner, the team is strong and well coached. Every league game will be important, but the Wolverines will have to beat La Conner to make it to states again.

It won’t be easy, but these ladies have been playing together for almost their whole lives. Some played volleyball this fall, finishing in fifth place in the 2B state tournament. This is the first time since 1997 that the volleyball team has made it to the state tournament.

“We’re pretty excited about the season, and the first week of practice has been fun, the girls have been working hard and are buying into a system that they haven’t had in the past. Looking forward to what they can do,” said Woods.

The other juniors and upcoming sophomores are also overall good players, with the seniors to lead them, they will be important off the bench in back-up roles.

The 2015-16 season started Dec. 4-5 with the Friday Harbor Tip-off Classic. To see scores of the games go to page 15.

Fred Woods is a first year coach at Friday Harbor, coaching in Wyoming and Idaho, before moving to Friday Harbor in 2007.