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By RICK THORP
BEALLSVILLE -- While the roster may be small, expectations are high surrounding the Beallsville High girls' basketball team this winter.
Second-year coach Tori Jarrett has nine players in the fold and plans on squeezing every ounce of ability out of them.
''I was hoping we'd have some higher numbers this year,'' the former Blue Devils standout said, ''but, I guess, you have to take what you get.''
Don't misunderstand her. While Jarrett would definitely love to have more numbers to work, she's extremely pleased with the quality of the players she brings to the table. So much so, she has some high goals for the group.
''My expectations are to be in the OVAC (Class A) championship,'' she said. ''I think we can contend if we can keep up with work we've done so far.''
With a blend of experience and youth, the Blue Devils hope to build on a 2015-16 campaign that saw them struggle in the win column.
''The chemistry is really starting to improve,'' Jarrett said. ''We have four freshmen and one sophomore and they played together in junior high, and those five blend together. Then, we have the four upperclassmen.''
With a squad low in numbers, that can be a factor most difficult for a coach.
With only nine players, Jarrett has had to devise innovative practice strategies to counter the inability to have 5-on-5 battles.
The past is definitely prologue for the Blue Devils, especially when talking about senior Talitha Bedford. The 5-foot-7 off guard returns to Monroe County this season after spending a season at Barnesville where she came off the bench for Coach Jamie Carpenter's Shamrocks.
The rookie group consists of Ashlie Louden, Ashley Howell, Jayden Gabel and Brittany Jones.
Louden (5-4) will be Beallsville's point guard.
In Howell, Beallsville has a 6-1 post player that Jarrett said works hard defensively.
Gabel (5-8, post) boasts ''good size,'' according to Jarrett, while Jones (5-6, guard), a transfer from Monroe Central, is ''scrappy and aggressive.''
Olivia Muncy returns and is the squad's lone sophomore.
Dagan Hossman (5-6, guard) is the team's only junior.
Jackie Myers and Rebecca Rutter, both seniors, round out the roster.
Myers, a 5-3 guard, brings a ''scrappiness'' to the team.
Jarrett is assisted by her dad, Terry.