NEW MARTINSVILLE – Magnolia girls’ basketball coach Kasey Sapp welcomes back only one starter from last season, however, Sapp will have a core group that features three seniors and a junior.

Junior Sienna McKeever (5-10, guard) is the Blue Eagles’ only returning starter but will be joined by seniors Maleigha Tamborello (5-5, guard), Madeline Delaney (5-9, forward) and Gracie Keene (5-2, guard). A trio of other girls who are back from last year could also see starting time in sophomores Josy Nice (5-7, forward), Aubrey Warder (5-11, forward) and Gabby Hudson (5-6, guard).

The remainder of the roster is sophomore Isabell Taylor (5-5, guard) and freshmen Alyssa Tamborello (5-7, forward), Charlotte Moore (5-1, guard), Elena Lemasters (5-2, guard), Kayden Renner (5-0, guard) and Zoey Hinkle (5-0, guard).

“As a team with very little experience and a young group, our focus early is on improving both as individuals and as a group,” Sapp admitted. “The girls are looking for ways to push one and another to get better.

“Our returning girls are already stepping up in practice and taking over from a team leadership perspective. We look for the four of them, along with newcomers Maleigha Tamborello, Mady Delaney and Gracie Keene, to make up the core varsity group.

“We are blessed with a nice size freshman class and watching them grow and compete over the next few months to grab some varsity minutes will be exciting.”

Magnolia will open the campaign on December 6 at Wheeling Central before the first home game the next night against visiting Beallsville.