Sophomore Haylee Rose, left, dishes the ball to a teammate during practice despite strong defensive attention from eighth-grader Kaitlyn Steenerson.

Marie Green is realistic.

Last year, her Naselle basketball team said goodbye to five seniors after their path to a trophy ended at a regional playoff one step from the state tournament in Spokane.

This year, the gym is filled with enthusiasm.

Naselle Girls Basketball

Naselle Girls Basketball

Nov. 30 Onalaska (a)

Dec. 1 Ocosta (h) 6 p.m.

Dec. 4 LaCenter (h)

Dec. 6 Kalama (h)

Dec. 11 Mossyrock (h)

Dec. 14 Columbia Adventist Academy, Battle Ground (a)

Dec. 20 Tenino (a)

Dec. 21 Ilwaco (a)

Dec. 28-29 Raymond Tourney (a)

2024

Jan. 3 Willapa Valley (h)

Jan. 4 PeEll (a)

Jan. 9 Three Rivers Christian (h)

Jan. 17 South Bend (h) 6 p.m.

Jan. 19 Mossyrock (a)

Jan. 20 Toledo (a)

Jan. 23 Columbia Adventist Academy (h) 6 p.m.

Jan. 25 Willapa Valley (a)

Jan. 27 Winlock (h) 3 p.m.

Jan. 29 PeEll (h) 5:45 p.m.

Feb. 1 Three Rivers Christian (h) 6 p.m. Seniors night

Post-season TBA

Varsity home games 7 p.m. unless indicated

“We graduated five amazing seniors who will be missed,” she said. “Looking forward to this season, we are really looking into building off basketball fundamentals and restructuring our team. This season is going to allow for a lot of girls to step into new roles on the team and create a new dynamic.”

Key returning players will be senior Gladys Wilson, sophomore Brooke Davis and freshmen Aubrey Katyryniuk and Brianna Johnson.

Their coach is enthused at what they offer. “Gladys has this effervescent quality to her that helps to keep things light,” Green said. “Brooke is a tenacious player in the key. She had a great mentor in Kaylin Shrives, having gotten to play opposite her last season.”

Last year, the Comets had huge cause to celebrate when Lauren Katyryniuk surpassed 1,000 career points and was named 1B player of the year. (She now is on the Longview college squad.)

“Aubrey is going to be like her big sister. Aubrey has a wide shooting range that will come in handy throughout the season, while Brianna brings a great defensive quality to the team. She reads the court well and really stepped up on the defensive end last year.”

Junior Evelyn Normand and sophomores Mylee Dunagan, Mallory Helvey and Haylee Rose will play their part, too.

Green is determining their roles, staying flexible. “Many of our players will become, as I like to put it, ‘utility’ players, meaning that they will learn and play in multiple positions,” she said.

The season begins Nov. 30 with a trip to Onalaska followed by a game against Ocosta Dec. 1, the first in a run of four home contents that leads to rivals Mossyrock Dec. 11.

League appears competitive. In March, Mossyrock lost the 1B championship to Neah Bay by two points; Willapa Valley advanced to state, but was eliminated in one game. Like Naselle, Mossyrock and Valley lost talented players to graduation; in the district, Green notes that Taholah and Oakville may offer challenges.

It is her second year as Naselle head coach and her 13th season coaching basketball; she will work again with assistant coach Haleigh See.

“My excitement level for getting the season started is pretty high,” said Green. “I love coaching basketball and sharing that love with my players.

“I’m truly excited to see how the girls adapt and adjust to this year. I’m not looking for the girls to replace our players from last year. I just want them to grow into the players that they are meant to be this season. Haleigh and I want the girls to have fun and to grow every day that we are in the gym.”