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By MIKE MATHISON
WEIRTON – Life has changed for the Weirton Madonna girls' basketball team.
The Blue Dons lost Monica Bragg, Katie Lammers and Mikaela Lenhart to graduation off a team that went 18-9 and made it to the West Virginia Class A state tournament, where they lost in the quarterfinals.
"Their shoes will be hard to fill," Madonna coach Don Ogden said.
Three seniors dot the roster in Samantha Parris, Haley Timko and Emma Burns, along with juniors Kasey Canei and Gianna Mascio.
"We have good overall team speed and I think we'll be more balanced in scoring this year," Ogden said.
Rounding out the roster are sophomores Rachel Boniti, Gia Riccadonna, Andrea Alimario, Gabriella Staffileno and Sabrina Alatis; and freshmen Addie Backel, Madison Costello, Carly Dowiak, Kennedy Martin and Kali Krynicki.
"We will have a JV schedule for the first time in three years," Ogden said.
Ogden also has a new coaching staff in Cory Wingett and Kim Edmiston.
"There is a positive carryover from last year's run and it is great to see," Ogden said. "The girls are working hard to duplicate their level of play that they exhibited toward the end of last season.
"The freshmen and first-year players are fitting well with culture of having a strong work ethic. We have a very difficult schedule with many top-quality teams."