Every preseason we talk about losses, both graduation and statistical, and we speculate how that gap will be filled.
Compared with what Southern Columbia has had to deal with during the offseason, that kind of numbers-based analysis seems trite.
Tigers coach Kevin Collins died suddenly in late July, leaving a void for the PIAA state qualifiers.
Assistant coach Kim Chaundy takes over on the bench for Collins, although thoughts of their former coach will never be far from the Tigers as they dedicate this season to his memory.
"It's not something anyone will ever forget, but we're no longer mourning but celebrating his legacy. We're keeping in mind what Kevin wanted," Chaundy said.
And with that in mind, the Tigers will take a very balanced, team-first approach and try to be one of three area teams to get back to the PIAA state playoffs.
Both Mount Carmel and Lourdes joined the Tigers in the dance last year, with Line Mountain and Shamokin having down years compared to recent standards.
Seven of last year's 11 all-area players graduated, but there's plenty of talent returning.
Starting with the Tigers, who'll need to find points somewhere. Kayla Lavella, Mallory Tomaschik and Kirstin Blass averaged more than 32 points per game combined and led Southern in scoring in all but two games.
Mackenzie Clark and Haley Levan are the only starters back, but Teanna Shutt's defense helped her crack the lineup in the playoffs. All three were also part of the state runner-up soccer team and are hungry for more success.
"It's been an inspiration to them coming off a great soccer and field hockey season and they're motivated," Chaundy said.
And any of them or one of the many new faces could be the leading scorer for Southern.
"Southern has always had one or two high scoring players," Chaundy said. "We're going to have five scoring players on the floor at all times, but they're not just going to score, they're going to do everything.
"We're going to focus on a deep bench and allow everyone to be part of the team."
Staying in Division II of the Heartland Conference, Mount Carmel has the most returning star power.
Senior Ali Varano is the only area player closing in on 1,000 career points, although Anna Raybuck, with 533 career points, has an outside chance with a very good year.
Varano and Raybuck, who combined to average 24.1 points per game, will form a devastating one-two punch for the Tornadoes, and a number of athletics cast members could help make this a remarkable year for Mount Carmel.
"The girls have worked hard in the off season and have come into the season with great enthusiasm," Mount Carmel head coach Lisa Varano said. "The girls are looking to get back into the district playoffs. They know if will be tough considering the strong competition. The goal is to get to the playoffs and have an opportunity to defend for the fourth straight district title."
Isabella Stellar and Ali Parker saw lots of time last year and played big roles in the playoff run.
Moving up to HAC-I, Shamokin has quietly amassed a formidable lineup.
Olivia Bonshock, who averaged 9.3 ppg, is the lone returning all-area player for the Indians, but she, Gabrielle Erb, Catelin Pancher and newcomer Gabby Lahr are all over 5-foot, 10-inches tall. And if there's one thing we've learned over the years in basketball is that you can't teach size.
Shaylee Pesarchick has a year under her belt running the offense for the Indians.
"We can't have inconsistency every night," Shamokin head coach Bill Callahan said. "We're going to have nights where you say, 'Wow!' and we have to maintain that.
"I think we'll be better than last year. We're working hard. We'll just see what happens."
Lourdes has the biggest holes to fill due to graduation. Nikki Komara, the Player of the Year in 2012-13, is now starting at Susquehanna University, while Sarah Getchey, who scored 11.2 ppg, has graduated also.
Rachel Schultz, the team's leading scorer from last year with 15.0 ppg, is back and should pace the Red Raiders' potent pressure defense.
Bailey Trell and Caitlyn Funk both started as sophomores last year and combined to score just under 10 points per contest and will need to step it up this year if the Red Raiders have hopes of a sixth straight District 4 Class A title and another deep run in the PIAA playoffs.
"We must stress defense, reducing turnovers and the returning players must step up their game," Lourdes head coach Mike Klembara said.
Freshman Carmella Bickle will attempt to replace Komara at point guard and is the first freshman to start at that position for Lourdes since Nikki Schroyer in the early 1990s.
Line Mountain has a trio of returning starters in Madison Lagerman (6.6 ppg), Madeline Reed (7.6 ppg) and Colleen Troutman (8.9 ppg) and the Eagles are hoping last year's 5-17 record is an anomaly.
"We have a core of returning starters," Line Mountain head coach Mike Reed said. "They must improve each day and gel with the younger girls, who could play big roles this year."
The Eagles should also have plenty of height with junior Alex Balavage (5-9) and Gabby Yerger (5-8) listed among their players to watch.
At North Schuylkill, which did not have a senior on the roster last year, John Rizzo's team will have six players back who have starting experience. The Spartans had a balanced scoring attack and knocked off both Mount Carmel and Shamokin early in December last year.
The Spartans, with state playoff aspirations of their own, will again play both the Tornadoes and Indians early in the season.
Capsules
Line Mountain
Head coach: Mike Reed
2012-13 record: 5-17
Players: Seniors - Madison Lagerman, forward; Madeline Reed, guard; Colleen Troutman, forward; Jessica Zimmerman, forward. Juniors - Caitlin Scott, guard; Alex Balavage, forward. Sophomores - Cheyenne Weiser, forward; Gabby Yerger, forward. Freshmen - Tori Wolfe, guard; Joelle Snyder, guard.
Outlook: The Eagles have a core group of returning starters, but that group averaged only a total of 23 points per game combined last year. That year of experience should help the Eagles seniors, but they'll need to continue to improve if Line Mountain hopes to make it just a one-year absence from the playoffs.
Lourdes
Head coach: Mike Klembara
2012-13 record: 22-6, lost in quarterfinals of PIAA state playoffs
Players: Seniors - Rachel Schultz, guard; Gabbi Long, forward; Angelique Pennypacker, center; Alexa Wheary, forward. Juniors - Bailey Trell, guard; Caitlyn Funk, forward; Jessica DeLong, center; Samantha Smith, forward. Sophomores - Krissy Komara, guard; Maya Khanna, guard; Kendall Krebs, forward; Corine Matusack, forward. Freshmen - Carmella Bickel, guard; Kelsey Connor, guard; Chrese Kulik, guard.
Outlook: Lourdes loses a ton of in-game experience with the graduation of Nikki Komara and Sarah Getchey, but the Red Raiders have a first-team all-area player back in Rachel Schultz. Schultz averaged 15.0 points per game, but the pressure is now on her to lead the team. The Raiders should still be in line to contend for an unprecedented sixth straight District 4 title after going through a brutal regular-season schedule.
Mount Carmel
Head coach: Lisa Varano
2012-13 record: 23-5, lost in second round of PIAA state playoffs
Players: Seniors - Paige Hornung, guard; Ali Varano, forward; Darla Hood, forward; Brianna Lutz, forward; Jessie Gibson, forward; Anna Raybuck, forward. Juniors - Jennifer Bolick, guard; Jordan Winhofer, guard; Isabella Stellar, guard. Sophomore - Alison Parker, forward. Freshman - Maura Fiamoncini, guard.
Outlook: The Red Tornadoes lost just one senior from their third straight District 4 championship - that means lots of returning experience for Mount Carmel, including Ali Varano, who is close to 1,000 career points, and Anna Raybuck, who can do a bit of everything. The early season schedule, with games against Northeast Bradford, North Schuylkill and Marian Catholic, will challenge the Red Tornadoes.
North Schuylkill
Head coach: John Rizzo
2012-13 record: 21-5, lost in District 11 playoffs
Players: Seniors - Nadya Spotts; Lauren Damiter; Justine Paul; Vanessa Zimmerman. Juniors - Carly Gregas ; Nina Marone; Chase Stokes; Leanne Long; Jess Yeneskie. Sophomores - Tiffany Lapotsky; Waverly Snyder; Anya Spotts; Kelly Damiter; Rachel Bell.
Outlook: North Schuylkill returns six players who have starting experience, including the team's two leading scorers from last year. With several veteran players coming back, Rizzo believes this is the year to take the program to the next level and put a banner on the wall.
Shamokin
Head coach: Bill Callahan
2012-13 record: 13-12, lost in D-4 playoffs
Players: Seniors - Kelsey Forbes, forward; Catelin Pancher, forward; Olivia Bonshock, forward; Jasmine Breslin, guard. Juniors - Brittney Pope, forward; Shaylee Pesarchick, guard; Taylor Tobias, forward; Cierra Zimmerman, guard. Sophomores - Cierra Koons, guard; Gabrielle Erb, forward; Haley Erb, guard; Gabby Lahr, forward; Abby Pennypacker, forward. Freshmen - Rebecca Delbaugh, guard; Cierra Eby, guard; Kiara Moore, guard; Rachelle Klinger, guard; Sara Popewczak, forward.
Outlook: The Indians are going to be strong in the front court with Olivia Bonshock, an all-area player last year, back. However, Shamokin is going to need more consistent guard play to get her the ball and front the pressure defense that the Indians play so well when they're winning.
Southern Columbia
Head coach: Kim Chaundy
2012-13 record: 19-7, lost in first round of PIAA state playoffs
Players: Seniors - Mackenzie Clark, guard; Reba Lyash, guard; Avory Pantalone, forward; Shannon Daubert, forward; Jensen Kremser, forward; Miranda Long, forward; Teanna Shutt, guard; Ang Vought, forward; Sam Thomas, guard. Juniors - Taylor Hoffman, forward. Sophomores - Haley Levan, forward; Mackenzie Chaundy, guard; Jill Oley, guard. Freshmen - Olivia Dobson, Sam Jankowski, Christina Podpura, Aliyah Wilk.
Outlook: The Tigers will need to replace lots of scoring from last year's PIAA state playoff qualifying team. The senior class is nine-deep, and the Tigers should be plenty athletic to pressure teams into easy points off turnovers.