Pleasant Grove returns familiar faces from last season's playoff team and are looking for a championship with some new faces.
The season starts today as the Lady Hawks play at Queen City at 4:30 p.m. in the junior varsity and varsity contests.
All five of last year's starters return for the Lady Hawks: senior forward Madeline Haak, senior center Monique Walker, junior forward Abby Hines, sophomore guard Ashanti Levingston, and sophomore guard Sha'Nequa Henry, who was last season's District 14-4A Most Valuable Player.
Pleasant Grove played in 33 games last year and made it to the area round of the playoffs.
"By the time the season is over, the girls would have played over 60 games together," Hawk head coach Jason Boston. "Nothing can compare to that much experience on the floor as well as them being together.
"Haak is a four-year starter, and she has flourished. Walker is the same way, and she has put a lot of time in during the summer and fall. Henry has improved her game too. I am excited to see them out there as well as with Hines and Levingston. It will be a cohesive unit, and we'll have nine total players; that is a good number."
The Hawks' goal is to make it further in the playoffs that they did the season before. Boston will employ the same fast pace offense and full-court press that added to PG's success last year.
Filling out the roster is freshman guard Macy Young, junior forward Don'Teshia Mixon, senior forward Ally Mathews, and junior center Noni Hilley.
Young, Mathews, and Hilley will have their first opportunity on the varsity squad.
"These players have seen a lot of really good teams, and they know how hard they need to practice and how hard they need to push to get to that level," Boston said.
"For some of them, it's their last go round and the good news is that they have been to the playoffs each year."
Pleasant Grove's offense centers on running the ball quickly down the floor and shooting quickly. The defense revolves around getting the ball back quickly so more shots can be made.
"Playing fast like we do, and shooting like we do gives us the best opportunity to be successful," Boston said.
2017-18 Lady Hawks Basketball Schedule
Date=Site-opponent=Time
Nov. 14=at Queen City=4:30 p.m.
Nov. 20=Texas High=4:30 p.m.
Nov. 21=at Hallsville=Noon
Nov.28=at New Boston=5 p.m.
Nov.30-Dec. 2=at Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill tournament=TBA
Dec. 5=Mount Pleasant=4:30 p.m.
Dec. 7-9=at New Boston Gunslinger tournament=TBA
Dec. 12=Saltillo=5:30 p.m.
Dec. 28-30=at Hallsville tournament=TBA
Jan 2.=at Gilmer=5 p.m.
Jan. 5=x-North Lamar=4:30 p.m.
Jan. 9=x-at Atlanta=4:30 p.m.
Jan.13=x-Pittsburg=4:30 p.m.
Jan. 16=x-at Paris=4:30 p.m.
Jan. 19=x-Liberty-Eylau=4:30 p.m.
Jan. 23=x-at North Lamar=4:30 p.m.
Jan. 26=x-Atlanta=4:30 p.m.
Jan. 30=x-Pittsburg=4:30 p.m.
Feb. 2=x-Paris=4:30 p.m.
Feb. 6=x-at Liberty-Eylau=4:30 p.m.
x-District 14-4A game.