MARTINS FERRY – Martins Ferry finished 15-8 last year, returns all but one player that saw extended action and has a fantastic freshmen class. However, the Purple Riders have moved Division III to Division II.

“We have a really good nucleus coming back. We might be the most talented bunch I’ve had, but I don’t know if we’re the best team I’ve had,” veteran head Dave Reasbeck said. “We don’t have what you would call a ‘rim-protector,’ but we a lot of girls are 5-8, 5-9, 5-10 that can run and jump. They have good basketball builds.”

While Reasbeck has five seniors, three juniors and four sophomores, it’s going to be the 8-member freshmen class that will most likely determine how far the Purple Riders can go.

“You’ll never hear me say we’re young. We’ve got a good foundation to start with,” he added. “This freshmen group has been playing basketball all their lives, but they really don’t understand what is going on yet, as far as varsity basketball,” he continued. “We’re going to count on three or four of them to start. They’ve always had success and never lost in anything they’ve done. It might take them some time to adjust, but we expect them to go from the beginning.”

Between four-senior letterwinner Danielle Lude (5-9) and three-year junior veteran Lindsey Best (5-10) they have 120 starts between them. That should give the younger girls some help in adjusting.

“If Danielle wanted she could’ve played (NCAA) Division I softball but she’s going to play D-II at Walsh University,” Reasbeck said. “She is a steady ball handler and can shoot from the outside.”

Best earned Division III third-team all-state honors last season when she averaged nearly 20 points an outing.

“The sky’s the limit for her. She can be as good as she wants to be,” Reasbeck pointed out. “I’m really looking forward to see how she develops over the next two seasons.”

The remaining seniors are Maddie Clark (6-0), Ella McFarland (5-7), Faith Smith (5-8) and Sarah Shreve (5-6). Of the group, Smith is the lone returning letterwinner and McFarland is sidelined for the season after undergoing knee surgery.

“Maddie is our tallest girl and will give us some valuable minutes off the bench,” Reasbeck said. “Ella tore her ACL in the first summer league game and is gone for the year. Faith started for us some her sophomore year.”

In addition to Best, the junior class includes Lindse Sidon (5-4) and Shaelee Wise (5-6).

Sidon served as the point guard last season but Reasbeck said she is a different player this year.

“She is an entirely different player. She has calmed down. You wouldn’t even recognize her,” he noted. “Her mental makeup is better and she worked on her body and has gotten a lot stronger. She is so much better this year.”

The sophomore class is led by Lakyn Call (5-5) and also includes Kendyl Brandon (5-6), Mikayla Cole (5-6) and Charlee Rose (5-8).

“Lakyn takes a beating in practice because we’ve got some tough defenders,” Reasbeck said. “She gets frustrated at times, but it only makes her better.”

Roe is currently sidelined with an injury.

The freshmen group that Reasbeck raved about is led by Gianna Chirpas (5-10), Maddie Lucas (5-9), Savannah Koller (5-4), Alivia Reese (5-8), Keegan Brandon (5-4), Brighton Torres (5-4), Gracis Lucas (5-5) and Ella Mamone (5-5).

“Chirpas is already on the college radar,” Reasbeck pointed out. “Lucas plays every sport and will likely be a starter for us. Alivia can play and Savannah might be our toughest player.”

The only player that saw extensive playing time last year was Avery Marchbank.

Reasbeck said his schedule is ‘brutal.

“We open up at Marietta, which advanced to the regional semifinals last season. They won 20-plus games, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I want to see where we are at,” he added. ”

We’re planning on playing Fort Frye in the OVAC (Class 3A) championship game. Union Local is going to be good again. River has one of the best players around back. Wheeling Central will be really good, and so will Indian Creek.

“We relish the schedule. If you’re going to be the best, you have to beat the best,” he added. “We just need to learn to play together. We’ve got the pieces. We’ll have to wait and see what the season holds for us.”