PRAIRIE CITY The Prairie City girls basketball team has faced challenging opponents early in the season, but is ready to step up their game and revisit the state playoffs this season.

The team is led by coaches Penny Black and Dennis Fast, whove been coaching the girls varsity team for nine years.

Last year, the Panthers were the No. 1 team in the High Desert League, making it to the second round of state playoffs before losing to St. Paul, 28-51.

The previous year the team was the second seed and lost at the second round to Powder Valley.

So far this season, the Panthers are 3-3 in nonleague play.

Black said that with the departure of two graduating senior starters, a guard and a forward, they lost some scoring ability, but others on the team are stepping up to fill their roles.

Kailey Kell, a post player, has worked on conditioning and shooting since last summer, Black said, adding Kell plays well inside and out.

The squad of 13 includes five seniors: Kell, Marika Woodbury, Krystin Packard, Breanna Doty and Jade Evans. They have been in the basketball program all four years of high school.

They bring physical strength and a stronger mental game theyre the base of the team, Black said. Its fun to coach them. Not once have they had a bad attitude they want to better themselves.

The seniors all said they believe the team could go far this year in districts and possibly on to state playoffs.

We have a lot of talent, and we work well together, said Woodbury.

I think weve got good attitudes, and were doing a good job, Packard said.

Kell agreed the team is looking good this season.

We have all the pieces needed, as long as we put them together, she said. Were strong inside and out.

Evans said the younger players are also adding their talent to the team.

We have a deep bench, she said.

We have the potential to go to state if we put all our hearts in it, Doty said.

Juniors Amy Black and Lindsey Stewart are also a positive force on the team.

Amy Black, whos played basketball since she was little, honed her skills last summer, playing for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

The entering ninth-graders, Lindsey Wall and Sarah Ennis, were well-coached on the junior high team led by Billy Colson, coach Black said.

Right now we have a lot to work on, she said. We have some skills to polish.

The Panthers are focusing on developing their offensive flow and gaining identity as a team.

Weve had a tough schedule its been challenging, Black said, but she expects the girls to take ownership whether they succeed or fail and fix what needs fixing.

As a whole, weve got the skill base and the confidence to pack us past districts, she said. But between now and then we have things to work on a lot of work to do.