Last weekend, the girls basketball team began its season by winning the Chippewa Holiday Classic tournament in Doylestown. The Knights beat Canton McKinley 53-36 on Friday. Senior Meredith May and junior Katie Arbogast led the team in scoring with 12 points each. On Saturday, Hoban beat Orrville 70-64 for the tourney title. Sophomore Tenishia Benson scored 24 points and was named to the all-star team, along with May.

After going 16-8 and being the runner-up in districts last year, the team is ready for a new season with a new coach.

Senior Meagan Gambone has high goals.

"What we want most is to cut down nets during the tournaments," she said. "We lost in districts last year to the state champs, and we haven't forgotten how depressing that can be."

Gambone is starting alongside May, Arbogast, Benson, senior Alex D'Amico. They are led by first-year coach Tracy Miller.

May thinks Miller has helped the team.

"I love playing for coach Miller," May said. "His mentorship has helped to mold me into the player I am today."

In addition to a new coach, the Knights have made other changes since last year. Five players graduated, and the team has changed its strategies dramatically from last year.

"We are a lot smaller than last year's team but we are a lot quicker," Gambone said. "I think we will surprise quite a few teams."

An element of surprise would help, considering the difficulty of the Knights' competition. Through the course of the season they play tough away games at St. Vincent-St. Mary and number one-ranked Regina, and a challenging home game against Walsh.

Hoban has its first home game on Tuesday against Mentor, one of the better teams it plays. The Knights will have to work hard to come out with a win.

D'Amico is expecting a good game.

"Mentor has one girl who is 6-foot-7," she said. "She'll be really tough to contain, but I think we'll try our hardest and can come out with a win."