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By MIKE MATHISON
STEUBENVILLE - Life is a different for the Steubenville girls' basketball team this season.
Gone are six graduated seniors and a ton of experience.
"We will start the season as an inexperienced team with only one returning letterwinner, Rhiannon Petrisko, but her ability and great leadership will raise our level of play as her new teammates gain their confidence and experience heading into the season," second-year coach Jeff Lombardo said. "Graduating six seniors from last year's team, our underclassmen have worked hard this summer and are excited to have their chance to take the program another step forward."
Along with Petrisko are fellow seniors Taylor Haney, Na'Auja Banks, Knisha Saunders and Jaliyah Dokes.
Big Red also has juniors Seana Ragusa, Sarah Brown, Taylor Williams, Emily King; sophomore Makayla Crownover and freshman Maddison Fields.
"We also welcome back three all-around athletes who did not play last year (Banks, Haney, and Saunders) and are committed to making the most of their senior year," Lombardo said. "Our ladies are working hard at practice and are focused on getting better every day so that we are peaking at the right time of the season."
Steubenville finished 19-6 a year ago, losing to Maysville in a district semifinal game. Lost to graduation were Hannah Masloski, Elise Watts, Tenia Barker, Amyrah Forte, Lysaih Rice and Janelle Dokes.
"We want to be a great defensive team, own the offensive/defensive boards, and limit our turnovers," Lombardo said. "If we can do these things, our goal is to qualify in the top four of the OVAC and give ourselves a chance to play for a championship."