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A year removed from posting their best record in more than a decade, the Cottonwood girls' basketball team is in a rebuilding mode. Not only did four starters graduate from last season's 15-win team, so did almost everyone with varsity experience.

Only one Colt on this year's team has played in a varsity game and that player, senior point guard Tina Hosea, is confident last year's experience can help her young teammates make this season just as memorable.

"We have already talked about last season a lot," said Hosea. "Talking about it doesn't mean we will get the same results — we obviously have to work — but my experience can help those players that haven't been there before."

Knowing that she would be the only returning starter, Hosea wanted to get an early start on building team unity.

"We really wanted to build chemistry early since it was a brand new team, so I hosted a few get-togethers at my house over the summer," said Hosea. "I feel like chemistry on this team is at an all-time high despite the difference in age between the freshmen and seniors."

Hosea, who led the team in 3-point shots made last season, has also been impressed with the skills her new teammates have displayed on the court.

"I wasn't sure how things were going to start out this season, but after practicing with the team, I really think we are going to have a successful year," said Hosea. "I think the sophomores and juniors are going to step up and surprise a lot of people."

With five underclassmen on the roster, head coach Janae Hirschi knows a return trip to the state tournament — where last season the Colts won a first-round game for the first time in 15 years — will be tough. However, the fourth-year coach is not about to change the game plan she has instilled at Cottonwood.

"This year will be a whole different battle than last season, but we still have the same philosophy of hard work and teamwork," said Hirschi. "We may not see the results of that work this year, but I am confident it will pay off sometime down the road. At the end of the day, our ultimate goal is to have the kids do the best they can." Fresh start for the Colts

A year after posting their best record in more than 10 years, the Cottonwood girls' basketball team is amid a rebuilding year.

Tina Hosea is the only returning player with varsity experience.

Despite all of the new players, the Colts maintain the expectation of returning to the state tournament.