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By RICK THORP
WOODSFIELD -- Find your role and fill it to the best of your ability.
That's the challenge Troy Baker has offered to members of his Monroe Central girls' basketball team as they embark on the 2016-17 campaign, which begins tonight at home vs. county rival River.
''One of the keys will be everybody fitting into their role,'' Baker said. ''Last year, we were 13-11 and in the middle of the road in the PVC (Pioneer Valley Conference). But we have some experience coming back, so we're not completely raw.
''A key will be our defense. We have to stop some people and be solid defensively and on rebounding every night.''
That left Baker and his coaching staff some work to do as preseason workouts began as the Seminoles saw nearly 50 percent of their scoring and an equal amount of their rebounding leave via graduation.
''We lost three seniors in Kayleigh Marley, Erin Miller and Carly Baker,'' Troy Baker said. ''We do have some holes to fill.''
Because of injuries and other factors, Baker wasn't able to field enough bodies to play in the summer. But that changed as preseason camp neared with the return of Gracie Gardner, Taryn Burkhart and Cheyenne Williams.
''I felt a little better then because we had some girls that had been around a bit,'' Baker said.
Senior Allison Kuhn (5-6) is the spark plug for the Seminoles.
''She is, by far, our leader, coming back,'' Baker said. ''She's a three-year letterwinner and closing in on 1,000 points.
''She is just a great basketball player. She's a scorer, No. 1, but she also a ballhandler and sees the floor well.
''She understands that the more players around her score, the less pressure on her. It seems like she is trying to get other players involved.''
Another mainstay for Monroe Central is junior Marlee Miller (5-9). She was second in the team in boards last winter.
''She is definitely working harder to post up and be a presence,'' Baker said. ''Her priority is getting in position and posting up.
''We're definitely looking for her to up her scoring and rebounding. When you lose 50 percent in both categories, we're looking for other people to step up.''
Burkhart, a 5-8 senior, returns after being injured in the team's opener last year.
''She's a very versatile player,'' Baker said. ''She can go inside and guard inside and guard outside. She's just an athlete who works very hard.''
Gardner is a 5-1 senior.
''She is very quick and has great footwork,'' Baker said. ''She handles the ball well and has improved her shooting, too. She is just a tenacious player.''
Williams, a 5-7 senior, will hold mainly a shooting guard spot.
''She will definitely be counted on for scoring,'' Baker stressed.
Baker has high hopes for four sophomores to make an impact -- Sydney Yoho, Amaya Craig, Kirsten Friday and Lakelynn Ricer.
Yoho (5-5) has the capability to run the one through three spots.
''She has good footwork and is pretty good defensively,'' Baker said. ''But her best assets are her passing and dribbling skills.''
Baker called Craig (5-5) ''probably our quickest guard.''
''This is going to be her first year of varsity experience,'' he noted. ''Overall, she is very athletic.''
Friday (5-8), according to Baker, provides the 'Noles with an inside scoring threat.
''She sees the floor well and is a good inside passer,'' he said. ''She is kind of a student of the game.''
Ricer (5-2), Baker said, is a ''good hustler.''
Freshmen vying for playing time include Amy Bettinger (5-11), Haven Dick (5-10) and Cierra Rainey (5-1).
Baker is assisted by Paris Yoho (varsity assistant) and Doug Yoho (junior varsity).