A start to a new sports season usually brings around new faces - specifically new starters and freshmen - but for two area teams, coaches will be the newest presence in the lockerrooms.
Jordan Rickert, Shamokin's all-time leading point-scorer, replaces Bill Callahan at her alma mater, and Kami Traugh takes over the helm at Line Mountain following the resignation of Mike Reed.
There are other storylines to follow as well.
Mount Carmel will try to defend its District 4 title, after losing some talent, Lourdes Regional will try to get back to the top of the district in Class A and Southern Columbia will turn to a young lineup.
Starting with Shamokin, Rickert inherits an Indians team that lost four seniors last season, but has News-Item Second Team junior Gabby Lahr returning.
Rickert believes that Lahr, who only started playing organized basketball last season, can still improve.
"She's only going to get better because she's raw at this point," Rickert said. "She's a good athlete. She understands the game, but we need her getting out of her comfort zone more."
Also returning for Shamokin is Shaylee Pesarchick, who averaged 7.4 points per game last year playing in every game.
Despite being in her first season, Rickert is trying to continue the success the Indians have had recently.
"Coach Callahan did a good job," Rickert said. "I'm trying to keep that tradtion: staying competitive and enjoy the game."
At Line Mountain, Traugh is also taking command of a young team that features only five upperclassmen.
"We have a young team with only one returning starter," Traugh said. "In scrimmages it looks like a lot of girls are nervous. I'm not really sure how many saw a lot playing time last year."
Sophomore Joelle Snyder is the only returning starter for the Eagles, and she's an impact player. Last year she averaged 10.6 ppg and made the News-Item Second Team as a freshman.
With such a young team and little experience, Traugh figures that things will take some time to figure out.
"My girls know that it doesn't matter whether you're a senior or a freshman, I'm going to play who fits those spots at the right time," Traugh said. "It depends on how we match up with other teams. We plan to be doing a lot of rotating."
Southern Columbia lost a number of seniors last season, which may make duplicating a 12-11 record difficult.
"I graduated nine seniors, so any time you graduate hardworking athletes, you're heading into a rebuilding season," Tigers coach Kim Chaundy said.
However, the team does have a returning starter in junior forward Haley Levan. Along with juniors Mackenzie Chaundy and Jill Oley all three have played together in the past.
Southern Columbia also has some question marks in Julia Mudrock and Abbey Hager. Mudrock is a senior, who hasn't played basketball since eighth grade, but will play this season. Hager, a freshman, stands at 5-foot-11, four inches taller than any of her teammates.
With a young team and some raw talent, Chaundy wants the team to take the season slowly.
"We're going to focus on one game at a time," Chaundy said. "Learn to mesh as a unit and grow in each game."
Mount Carmel also lost senior talent in Ali Varano, The News-Item's Player of the Year, and Paige Hornung.
Returning for the Red Tornadoes is Maura Fiamoncini, a second team News-Item all star who averaged 5.3 ppg.
"I think that experience that she gained last year will be invaluable," Mount Carmel coach Lisa Varano said. "She played in some big games. Hopefully that will carry her into another successful year."
As for replacing the seniors and their leadership, Varano believes that can come in multiple ways.
"I think I have some seniors that can step up," Varano said. "Sometimes leadership is hard to replace. We also have younger girls working hard in practice." Those seniors include Jen Bolick and Isabella Stellar, who played in every game last season. Bolick was the second leading scorer for the Red Tornadoes.
Lourdes' streak of four straight district titles ended last season but the Red Raiders return three starters including senior Bailey Trell, a News-Item second team all-star who averaged 11.1 ppg.
Joining Trell is senior Caity Funk and sophomore Carmella Bickel, another News-Item second-team all star.
Red Raiders coach Mike Klembara said the next two spots will be decided between six players: Krissy Komara, Maya Khanna, Kendall Krebs, Olivia Dobson, Selina Albert and Jessica Milewski.
Komara saw the most time last year, playing in 13 games.
Capsules
Line Mountain
Head coach: Kam Traugh
2013-14 record: 8-14
Players: Seniors - Alex Balavage, forward; Caitlin Scott, guard. Juniors - Rachel Clark, forward; Morgan Hunsberger, forward; Gabby Yerger, forward. Sophomores - Bri Adams, guard; Noel Lagerman, guard; Joelle Snyder, guard; Tori Wolfe, guard. Freshmen - Lily Battifrano, forward; Brittany Bendas, guard; Gabby Eby, forward; Michelle Ellis, forward; Abbie Klinger, guard; Maura Lundy, forward; Kayla Ray, guard; Lacey Snyder, forward; Maria Troutman, guard.
Outlook: The Eagles have a young lineup so it will be difficult to reach success at the beginning of the season. Things may get better as the season moves along. A lot will fall on sophomore Joelle Snyder.
Lourdes
Head coach: Mike Klembara
2013-14 record: 11-12
Players: Seniors - Caity Funk, center; Bailey Trell, guard. Juniors - Maya Khanna, forward; Krissy Komara, guard; Kendall Krebs, guard. Sophomores - Carmella Bickel, guard; Kelsey Connor, center; Olivia Dobson, forward; Chreese Kulick, forward. Freshmen - Selina Albert, forward; Peyton Baskin, center; Mary Komara, guard; Jessica Milewski, forward.
Outlook: Another District 4 Class A title is possible with three returning starters, who can all make an impact. How the fourth and fifth starters play will dictate how far the Red Raiders can go.
Mount Carmel
Head coach: Lisa Varano
2013-14 record: 25-5
Players: Seniors - Jen Bolick, guard; Isabella Stellar, forward; Jordan Winhofer, guard; Maddie Watkins, forward. Juniors - Alison Parker, center; Jackie Lyden, guard. Sophomores - Maura Fiamoncini, guard; Marissa Kleman, guard; Amanda Arellano, guard. Freshmen - Nicole Varano, forward.
Outlook: Losing Ali Varano will hurt, and replacing last season's success will be difficult, but the team still has experienced seniors and Maura Fiamoncini figures to improve from a strong first season.
Shamokin
Head coach: Jordan Rickert
2013-14 record: 13-10
Players: Seniors - Shaylee Pesarchick, guard; Brittany Pope, forward; Cierra Zimmerman, forward. Juniors - Gabby Erb, forward; Gabby Lahr, forward. Sophomores - Cierra Eby, guard; Sara Popewczak, guard. Freshmen - Abigail Aurand, forward; Kiara Bonshock, forward; Maryssa Erdman, guard; Mackenzie Hasuga, forward; Kamilyah Nazih, forward; Keyona Shoff, forward.
Outlook: The team lost seniors, but still has talent coming back, mainly in Gabby Lahr. Most players saw time last year, but several will be counted on to help with the scoring.
Southern Columbia
Head coach: Kim Chaundy
2013-14 record: 12-11
Players: Seniors - Taylor Hoffman, guard; Julia Mudrock, guard. Juniors - Mackenzie Chaundy, guard; Haley Levan, forward; Jill Oley, guard. Sophomores - Sam Jankowski, guard; Christina Podpora, guard; Racheal Sage, guard; Aliyah Wilk, guard. Freshmen - Meghan Duzick, guard; Abbey Hager, center; Madison Klock, guard; Abbey Shimock, guard.
Outlook: The Tigers will be small and although losing a lot of seniors, there is playing experience on the roster. The team has some question marks and will need to mesh, but if things turn out okay, it can make a run at District playoffs.