Leavitt is coming off a season in which it made a return to the postseason, during which the Hornets advanced to the Class A South semifinals, wherein they lost to Greely.

Leading the way for the Hornets was KVAC player of the year Chantel Eels. This year, Eels is not in Turner, she is instead playing starter’s minutes at the University of Southern Maine.

Clearly, that’s a significant loss. On the plus side, though, Eels is the only senior Leavitt lost from last year’s team.

“I would say that we’ve got seven or eight players coming back that have played a lot of varsity basketball,” coach Dave Gerrish said. “Realistically, we’re just striving to be the best version of this team.”

This years senior class is deep, with returners Allie Belaire, Miranda Coombs, Carlee Long and Shannon O’Malley. There’s also a junior class that is five-strong.

Gerrish said he used the preseason to get a feel for exactly the brand of basketball the Hornets would play this season. Defensively, they’ll mix up their full-court, half-court and quarter-court sets, and on offense they’ll likely get out and run on occasion.

“I really feel like what we strive to do is play good basketball and take the best shots possible,” Gerrish said. “We don’t have much size, so we’ll just look to push the ball up the floor and make plays.”

Coach: Dave Gerrish (fourth year)

Conference: KVAC; Class: A South.

Last year’s results: 10-10 (lost in Class A South semifinals)

Returning athletes: Seniors — Allie Belaire, Miranda Coombs, Carlee Long, Shannon O’Malley; Juniors — Sophia Gilbert, Elizabeth Goulette, Rebecca Fogg, Zoe Nadeau, Hannah Chouinard; Sophomores — Georgia Brown, Mallory Casey, Madelyn Pike.

Key losses: Chantel Eells.

Promising newcomers: Sophomores – Aisha Hiltz, Amber Kelly; Freshmen — Taylor White, McKenna Redstone, Shelby Varney, Julia White, Jazlyn Mitchell, Julie Beaucage.

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