Another year brings another season of high expectations for the girls of the White River High basketball team.

The program has become something of a machine under the tutelage of coach Chris Gibson, earning trips to the state hoop tournament 10 times in the past dozen seasons. Nine of those state appearances came as a Class 3A club, with last year’s state berth coming after White River dropped to the Class 2A ranks.

Gibson and his crew roll into another season aiming for a spot among the elites, but they’ll do it having lost three top three scorers from last year’s squad. Gone are the 41 points per game, on average, scored by the trio of Brooke Paulson, Sabra Sproul and Rani Wiegand.

But that doesn’t mean the team is without options. Back to lead the show are point guards Cassidy France, the starter until being sidelined with a knee injury that required surgery, and Sutton Mills, who took over the job and led the Hornets to the state tourney. Returning starter Kennedy Hobert, at 5-10, adds a bit of height and proven scoring capability.

Expected to fill the middle are 6-footer Erin Worley and 5-11 Crystal Narolski. Also returning to the varsity squad is senior guard Amy Brons.

Rounding out the team are Abby Cylkowski, who saw some varsity time last season; Kathryn Timmerman, up from the junior varsity squad; and three freshmen – Kristin Sturdivan, Amanda Lance and Rachel Davey.

Gibson said his girls had a good summer of competition and, lacking height, will again count on quickness.

“We definitely have a long way to go,” Gibson said about his squad’s early-season development. “But by February we have a chance to be a nice little team.”