NOXON – As the young Lady Red Devils gear up for their first bit of action this season, the team expects their games to be a learning experience.

With 14 girls in all, Head Coach Ashleigh Singbeil said approximately half of them do not have prior experience. Their oldest returning player is junior Caroline Clancy. Clancy is one of the four returning girls this season with Asiah Jensen, Zoey Osborne and Kristen Webley also in the mix.

The team does have two seniors on the team, although neither of them has played before.

Coach Singbeil is happy to have Jensen back in the mix this year.

“She only got to play a couple of games last year due to injuries. She’s just kind of an all around player and is turning out to be a good leader as well,” Coach Singbeil said. “She can handle the ball and has a good shot as well.”

Freshman Jenna Langdon is also shaping up to be a strong team asset.

“She’s got a really cool mindset and stays pretty calm. She wants to be there and she’s working really hard,” Coach Singbeil said.

This year since numbers were down, an eighth grader will be put into the mix for the first time.

Cory Brodnerkle expects to see a lot of playing time despite her young age.

“I don’t even look at her as an eighth grader. That explains where our whole team level is,” Coach Singbeil said.

Like all of the schools in Sanders County, the ladies will play their first game at the Sanders County Tip-Off Tournament. Coach Singbeil expects to be fairly well matched up to Hot Springs, explaining Thompson Falls and Plains may be harder to steal a victory from.

“I think they have a lot more experience and are more of a cohesive unit. They’ve been working together for a while,” Coach Singbeil explained.

Their first game outside of the tournament will be against Two Eagle River on the 19th; a team she said is hard to match up with.

“I don’t think anyone matches up to Two Eagle River. We beat them (last year) but they never have anything to lose and they come at you with all forces.”

She expects the home game against Troy on December 21st to be more fairly matched.

Coach Singbeil explained starting the season off on an equal playing field could be beneficial to the team.

“I think that it keeps their morale up a little bit. They aren’t as hard on themselves and it gives them some confidence,” Coach Singbeil said.