The Calvary Lady Lions are already winning, and the season has yet to get underway.
Calvary head coach Jonathan Kueck is looking forward to two luxuries that he has yet to have in his sixth season - depth and an assistant coach.
Seventeen students are shooting hoops for the Lady Lions this season, allowing the program to field a junior varsity squad for the first time ever.
Kueck will feel a sense of comfort with his depth when the Lady Lions tip off their season at 6:15 p.m. tonight at New Bloomfield.
"In years past I've started the seasons with 10 and ending the season with eight. Some started with seven, first year I started with six," Kueck said. "Within each game we'll be able to pull off two or three girls if they're in foul trouble or need a break. The two or three that are put in will be able to fill that role. It's huge, and it's something we've never had at Calvary."
The squad returns all five starters from a season ago and will not have a single senior once again. The Lady Lions will rely on their three leading scorers from last year, who were all sophomores at the time; Rebecca Thompson, Brooke Rollins and Samantha Gunn.
Thompson, a guard, was the leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game. Rollins had nine points per game, while Gunn, a 6-foot post, chipped in seven points a game.
Kueck will also be working with three sophomores and nine freshmen. Freshman forwards Abby Girard and Haley Braun will look to make an immediate impact in the varsity rotation.
"They're going to add quite a bit to the program," Kueck said.
Kueck believes the depth is real, saying there "isn't much difference between the first five and next five."
But, maybe just as important, having fresh legs will be beneficial in the latter part of the season.
"It was evident throughout the last five years I've been here, we just hit that point in the season where we don't have that depth," Kueck said. "But within each game it'll be important too. If somebody's struggling then someone on the bench will be able to fill their spot."
Calvary will try and improve from its 8-17 record from last year in its fifth year of varsity competition.
"I have a different feeling about this season with the numbers that we have. The experience and the athleticism this team is good," Kueck said. "We have girls that are able to see the floor and have the athleticism to execute. I just have a different feeling about this season."
Brian Meisel, Kueck's new assistant, has brought a mental approach to the table.
"That's important," Kueck said. "There's the old adage: It's 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. We're talking a lot about the mental aspect of the game like seeing the court but also in regards to their play as well."
Growing numbers is becoming a common theme at Calvary, but it's not affecting chemistry, as it's as good as it has been.
"The mold that they're really putting together, I can really see a big difference when we're scrimmaging and practicing," Kueck said. "Especially with the girls that have the experience and the basketball talent, there's just a big change."
The Lady Lions participated in the Cole Camp Jamboree last week and put on a Crimson and Silver scrimmage for early-season action. Which are two more things they haven't been able to do in the past.
Overall, Kueck is feeling confident about his group.
"Every school goes through cycles, and I kind of foresee Calvary is going up," Kueck said. "I think we'll surprise some teams, which is a good spot for us. ... We just enjoy where we are right now."