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By RICK THORP
MORRISTOWN -- During Kelley Hanlon's tenure as head coach of the Union Local girls' basketball team, her team has taken on many different looks with numerous players playing key roles.
But while the faces have changed, the success hasn't. And as the Jets prepare to take flight on their fourth season under Hanlon's guidance Monday night at River, expectations are high again inside 'The Hangar.'
''I'm very excited about this team, I really am,'' Hanlon said. ''They're a group of kids that want to work very hard, and they've done it in the offseason.''
Coming off an OVAC Tournament championship, and the program's second appearance in the title game in three seasons under Hanlon's watch, Union Local, again, appears to be one of the teams to beat in Class 4A.
With a small, but solid, senior group, a talented junior point guard, and a bevy of sophomore talent, the Jets hope to blend everything together into another successful campaign.
''It's really amazing how hard they've worked,'' Hanlon said. ''I think they're ready for the season.''
When Hanlon took over the team from Drew Greenwood, her goal was to not only win games, but create an atmosphere of success and up and down through the program -- from junior high on up.
And, according to her, it's happened.
''This biggest thing I've noticed are the numbers this year,'' she said. ''I've had girls come out that had never played before, just wanting to be part of the program. That's saying something that it's a good program to be part of.''
The Jets have their point guard back in ultra-talented junior Haley Porter (5-6).
''She's an incredible player,'' Hanlon said, ''but I've seen her grow mentally more than anything. She's keyed on doing the little things she wasn't doing last year.''
A ''coach on the floor,'' according to Hanlon, Porter has continued her maturation process and is developing into a more all-around player.
''She's gone from a very good player to being a factor people will have to take notice of,'' Hanlon said. ''If you see her with the ball, you'd better get ahead of the ball.''
While Porter mans the outside, senior Kaitlynn Clark-Patterson (6-1) will control the inside.
One of three seniors that came into the program with Hanlon, Clark-Patterson is hoping to stay healthy after her junior campaign was ravaged by injury.
''We need her for rebounding,'' Hanlon said, ''but she's also worked on her offense to the point where we're able to feel comfortable getting it into her.
''She's moved outward and just isn't under the basket anymore. I have no problem with her shooting 15 feet out.''
Mackenzie McGary (5-4) is another senior being counted on fill a variety of roles, with tops serving as a leader.
''She's shooting a little more this year, but, defensively, she's very quick,'' Hanlon said.
Hannah Porter (5-6), a sophomore and Haley's sister, will fill a shooting guard spot, or a point guard one when Haley's not on the floor.
''She shot well last year, but I noticed the first week of practice that he had her timing down and her footwork down,'' Hanlon said.
''With all of our sophomores, their skills are there, we just need to build them mentally.''
Megan Bateman (5-6), a senior an a standout on the cross country course for UL, brings guard support.
Sophomore Sutherlynd Butler (5-9) is in the mix for a starting spot, while classmate Laryssa Brandon (5-7) will likely come off the bench in a post role.
Other sophomores vying for playing time include Alison Loase (5-5) Lauryn Menges (5-2) and Emilee Robb (5-4).
The Jets will return to the Division II sectional this season, a place where it fell in the opening game last winter. Hanlon hopes to make strides there, as well as in other parts of the schedule.
''That's a goal, as well as getting back to the OVAC tournament and winning the Buckeye 8,'' she said.
''I think as long as we keep everyone healthy and keep the right mentality, we should be OK.''
Hanlon is assisted by Mike Menges.