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By KIM NORTH
OLD WASHINGTON -- After winning 11 games in his first season as head coach of the Buckeye Trail girls basketball program, Chris Starr is ready for his Warriors to take the next step this winter. With his top seven players returning -- the 2015-16 squad didn't include a senior -- things are looking bright.
"We have two seniors and five juniors back who all played last season," Starr, a former University of Michigan baseball player and Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Famer, said. "We won more games last year than the program has in a good while, so I think we're on our way up the ladder. We're looking to do better than we did a year ago.
"Everybody is back and we finally have some continuity in the program. Everyone knows what they are doing right now, so this year we should show a lot of improvement."
The senior duo of 5--foot-8 forward Lexe Starr and 5-5 guard Karlye Hensley already have half-a-dozen varsity letters entering the season. They will be counted on for not only scoring, but leadership qualities.
"We're counting on both of those girls to do a lot for us this season, but we're also counting on our juniors that lettered last year, as well," Starr said. "We won't have one standout player. What we do have is about eight girls who can help us. That's our goal."
The juniors are 5-6 guard Hannah Smith; 5-10 forward Jenni Carmichael; 5-7 forward Rachel Chesar; 5-4 guard Alli McVicker; 5-5 guard Amber Colvin; and 5-1 guard Alexxys Roe. All but Roe lettered a year ago.
"Lexe is a post player and a good defender," Coach Starr said of his daughter. "She's probably one of our better post players.
"Karlye does a great job defensively. Hopefully, she'll be able to shoot the ball from the perimeter for us.
"Hannah is our point guard and will run the show. She takes care of the ball and is a really good defender.
"Jenni is another post player with good size. She led us in scoring last year and does a really good job of rebounding.
"Alexxys didn't play for us last year because she was injured, but she's healthy and we hope she can help us out with some depth.
"Rachel was basically a sub for our two post players last year who played a lot. She played about as much as the starters did. Does a nice job defensively, as well.
The McVicker and Colvin girls both play wings for us. They both also played a lot last year, and both are good defenders."
A lot of those players were members of the ultra-successful Warriors volleyball team that advanced to the regional semifinals before bowing out. Starr is hoping some of that success carries over.
"I think the winning attitude means a lot," he stressed. "We expect to go out and compete each night and have a chance to win. That's what our hope is."
Assisting Starr are Mike Smith and Chad Colvin.