WARDSVILLE - The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons certainly appear to be ready for the season to begin.
"We're trying to simulate game intensity," first-year Blair Oaks girls basketball coach Brandon Moore said. "It's really hard in practice, but we as coaches have to be really intense with them as well and I think they've responded really well."
The Lady Falcons will get to play back-to-back nights to start the season, beginning tonight against Fulton before facing Helias on Tuesday. Both games will be at home.
To begin the season, the Blair Oaks starting lineup is expected to feature three seniors and two juniors.
Mallorie Fick, a junior guard, can do a bit of everything for the Lady Falcons. She led the team with nearly 14 points per game, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals for a Blair Oaks team that went 15-12 last season.
The shooting range for Fick is expanding.
"She stretched it out a little bit further this year; I think you're gonna see that in games," Moore said. "Kind of giving her that green light to have the ability to do that, even in college range. But she's also been more aggressive getting downhill, which I like."
Sharing point guard duties with Fick will be senior Bailey Rissmiller, the team's second-leading scoring from last season at 10.3 points per game. Rissmiller also averaged four rebounds, three assists and 1.6 steals last season.
"I think we have a lot of girls that can get down the floor with the basketball," Moore said. "I think she's really effective if she can get down on the wing and attack from there, versus always bringing it down the middle of the floor."
Seniors Alyssa Hargus and Natalie Heckman are expected to start at guard positions.
"She's always been a pretty good shooter for us," Moore said of Hargus. "One thing I want her to do is just be consistent this year. She's one that as long as she stays confident she will be able to consistently stretch the floor for us."
Rounding out the starting lineup will be junior guard Grace Boessen, who Moore said has put in the work in the offseason to earn a starting spot.
Madi Boessen, a senior, is also expected to be working into the starting lineup when she returns from an injury.
What will help Blair Oaks execute its transition style of play is its depth.
Senior Lauren Strange, junior Kadence Kliegel and sophomore Emma Wolken will come off the bench as guards.
Kliegel can serve as a point guard when she enters the game.
"She's very good at managing the game," Moore said. "She takes care of the ball. And she gets a lot of stops, turnovers, she's good with her hands, quick with their feet, so I think she'll play a lot for us."
Adding a post presence will be freshman center Autumn Bax, who's listed at 5-foot-11.
"Very good length. I think she has developed from last summer," Moore said. "Volleyball season was good for her. I think it improved her athleticism and her strength and it really is shown on the court. She's been a pretty good standout for us so far."
Blair Oaks will see where it stands in the Tri-County Conference next week in the conference tournament, which the No. 4 seed Lady Falcons will host.
Boonville, Southern Boone and California - all coming off seasons with more than 20 wins - are the top three seeds in the tournament.
"There's a lot of great teams in the Tri-County Conference," Moore said. " It's gonna be tough, no doubt. We're gonna see what happens, and I'm excited for that obviously just to get out and compete against those teams."
Blair Oaks ended last season with a 46-33 defeat against California in the Class 3 District 9 Tournament.
"I think you want to continue to improve year after year, that's what you want to see your program do," Moore said. " I'm a big guy on just improving each individual athlete and also the team.
"Everybody wants to look at the win column at the end of the season. I think that's one indicator but I think the biggest thing is that I enjoy, and the reason I want to coach, is because I can see improvement in girls and when they finally get it, it's awesome to see that."