It is not easy to come back following a 3-15 season. But girls' basketball coach Bill Burridge feels his squad has the attitude of a team that just went 15-3.
Maybe it is knowing that last year four freshmen and four sophomores donned the Generals varsity uniforms and now they come back with experience.
“You have to approach the season with great enthusiasm,” said Burridge. “When you are 3-15, the only way is up.
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“And I will say that the team has come back with enthusiasm and attitude that will make us winners.”
The Generals also have two senior co-captains so the experience is up to 10 players.
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“It’s hard to win without a large senior presence, but I think we’re going to be OK. We have a veteran team but not a seasoned team,” said Burridge, in his 16th year leading the Generals.
Junior forward Cassandra Fibbe returns as last year’s leading scorer (9 points per game) and as one of the top two rebounders.
The senior captains are guard Sophie Prince and center Victoria Tansey. Tansey was also a leading rebounder from a year ago.
The two other juniors with significant varsity experience are Jen Cook, a guard, and Taylor Morong, a power forward. Maggie Hackett, a guard, is the other junior.
“I think with the experience the girls had from playing a lot last year we will be better off on the court,” Burridge added.
Sophomores Carolyn Cook (forward), Samantha Charette (center) and Hayley Willis (guard-forward) saw a good amount of time for Burridge last year and will be part of this year’s deep rotation.
“We’re going to go 10 deep. The way it works out we have a number of players who are equal in ability,” Burridge said. “The kids have a great attitude and all work hard. And they are deserving of playing time.”
Rounding out the team are sophomores Suzanne Rose, Catherine Ecker and Leslie Bynum.
Burridge feels his team will certainly be better than 2010’s three-win season. He went as far as to say that his young squad will stay with most Cape Ann League competition.
Masconomet, North Andover and Pentucket will be battling for the top spot, while fellow Division 3 squads Ipswich and Newburyport, last year’s division winner, will be tough.
“They know the offense, and as they say, the most important thing is I’ve seen a good attitude,” Burridge said. “That will win us some ball games. At the high school level a good attitude goes a long way.”
Hamilton-Wenham opened up at home on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. against North Reading.
